Title: Contaminated Injections Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Development in UK Patients
Five patients in the UK have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as a result of contaminated injections they received during their childhood. These patients had been receiving injections of human growth hormone extracted from cadavers over an extended period to treat their very short stature.
These injections, which were meant to aid growth, were unknowingly contaminated with amyloid-beta protein. This particular protein is known to play a role in the formation of brain plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The patients began experiencing symptoms of dementia between the ages of 38 and 55, and genetic testing ruled out any known genetic mutations linked to early-onset dementia.
This groundbreaking study suggests a previously unknown third pathway for the development of Alzheimer’s disease – through contaminated medical products. The findings have left doctors who specialize in treating hormone-related issues both surprised and concerned.
Although the study is based on a small sample size, researchers warn that other patients who have received cadaver-derived hormones may also be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, they reassure the public that the risk of transmission is minimal, as synthetic growth hormone has been used as a treatment for short stature since 1985.
This study raises questions about the initial stages of Alzheimer’s and hints at a possible connection between the disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare degenerative brain disorder. The similarities between the two conditions warrant further investigation.
In light of these findings, the study’s authors strongly recommend that individuals who have been treated with cadaver-derived human growth hormone seek medical advice and undergo testing if necessary. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the US and the National Prion Clinic in the UK can provide further information and support to patients who have received cadaver-derived hormones.
It is important to note that children currently receiving treatment for short stature are not at risk, as synthetic growth hormone has been the standard practice for over three decades. Nonetheless, the medical community continues to explore new avenues to better understand the origins of Alzheimer’s and to develop more effective preventative measures and treatments for this debilitating disease.
