Alzheimer's vaccine: A possible way to prevent the long goodbye

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• July 8, 2022

Insight summary

Promising research on Alzheimer's treatments, focusing on endobody vaccines, could make the disease preventable. While challenges exist, increased funding may lead to multiple vaccines by the 2030s, benefiting healthcare and innovation. This development could also impact staffing in elderly care, extend seniors' lifespans, and require healthcare policy adjustments.

Alzheimer's vaccine context

Alzheimer's disease affects almost 6 million people in the US every year and is the most common cause of age-related dementia. Patients with Alzheimer's deal with ineffective treatment plans, lack of preventative measures, and delayed diagnosis. With the development of a new Alzheimer's vaccine, the disease may become entirely preventable. 

There are two primary types of vaccines: exogenous and endobody. Most vaccines are exogenous and prepare the body's immune system to prevent disease caused by external factors such as the coronavirus. Endobody vaccines are rare, targeting faulty internal procedures of the body. For example, only four approved endobody vaccines are currently available. Two target animal healthcare, and two are for the potential prevention of specific cancers. 

United Neuroscience is testing a similar endobody vaccine to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, which has already entered the human-testing stage of clinical trials. The University of South Florida has also published research on using the body's immune cells to target Alzheimer's-causing proteins. Their method uses dendritic cells filled with disease-causing proteins. The dendritic cells communicate with other immune cells to generate an immune response against the molecules. 

Research shows that two types of proteins cause Alzheimer's: plaques and tangles. Therefore, any vaccine that can remove these two molecules will successfully prevent Alzheimer's entirely. A medical team at the Institute for Molecular Medicine and the University of California, Irvine, has successfully tested their vaccine on mice and hopes to move on to human trials soon. However, their vaccine needs to be administered in high doses every month to show significant preventative effects in healthy individuals, making it inefficient for potential sufferers. 

Disruptive impact

In 2023, the absence of approved Alzheimer's vaccines underscores the challenges in developing preventive measures for this devastating disease. The complex and time-consuming nature of clinical testing means that recent advancements, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s accelerated approval of lecanemab (Leqembi) for early Alzheimer's treatment, are unlikely to result in immediate solutions. This situation raises questions about the timeline for the availability of effective Alzheimer's vaccines.

Nevertheless, the landscape of Alzheimer's research may witness significant changes in the coming years. Increased public pressure from advocacy groups and healthcare companies, driven by the potential commercial gains of being the first to develop an Alzheimer's vaccine, could lead to a redirection of funding toward Alzheimer's vaccine research. This influx of funding has the potential to spur innovation and competition, possibly resulting in multiple Alzheimer's vaccines entering the market by the 2030s. Additionally, this increased funding may have a positive ripple effect within the scientific community, creating more research-based job opportunities and expediting the development of testing and prototypes.

However, the successful adoption of future Alzheimer's vaccines may hinge on more than just scientific advancements. Public perception and trust in these vaccines will play a crucial role. Healthcare companies may need to collaborate with government agencies and marketing firms to launch comprehensive public information campaigns that highlight the vaccines' effectiveness and safety. 

Implications of an Alzheimer's vaccine

Wider implications of an Alzheimer's vaccine being developed and distributed to the public may include:

• The healthcare industry witnessing a shift in staffing requirements within the elderly care home sector, adapting to a lower number of Alzheimer's patients.
• Longer lifespans and improved quality of life among this demographic, impacting healthcare systems, retirement planning, and intergenerational dynamics.
• The global senior citizen population benefiting from enhanced levels of independence and overall quality of life, influencing societal perceptions of aging, retirement planning, and family structures.
• The development of other vaccines targeting different health conditions, fostering innovation in vaccine research and expanding preventive healthcare options.
• A reduced burden on healthcare systems, stemming from a lower incidence of Alzheimer's cases and related medical expenses.
• Governments adapting healthcare policies and social support programs to accommodate an aging population with fewer Alzheimer's cases, potentially redirecting resources to address other pressing healthcare needs.
• Technological advancements in healthcare, including vaccine development and diagnostic tools, accelerating due to increased research funding and investment.

Questions to consider

• Do you think people will be comfortable receiving a vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's? 
• Do you believe that a cure will ever be found for Alzheimer's?