Study Links Growth Hormone Treatments to Alzheimer’s Disease Development
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, has long been thought to occur naturally. However, groundbreaking research from University College London (UCL) has revealed that certain medical treatments can actually trigger the development of this debilitating condition. In a study published in Nature Medicine, UCL researchers have linked growth hormone treatments to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid proteins in the brain. Risk factors for the disease include age, family history, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and certain medical conditions. The UCL study focused on patients who had received a specific type of human growth hormone called c-hGH, which was extracted from the pituitary glands of deceased individuals.
The researchers discovered that c-hGH treatment led to increased levels of amyloid-beta protein in the brain. Out of the eight individuals studied who had received c-hGH as children, five developed symptoms of dementia and were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or met the disease’s criteria. These patients, aged between 38 and 55, experienced cognitive decline that was not inherited genetically.
Dr. Gargi Banerjee, a researcher at the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases and the study’s first author, stated, “We have found that it is possible for amyloid-beta pathology to be transmitted and contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.” The transmission occurred as a result of treatment with a now-discontinued form of growth hormone that was contaminated with disease-related proteins.
It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be transmitted through person-to-person contact or routine medical care. Professor John Collinge, the lead author of the research and director of the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, emphasized this point, stating, “There is no suggestion whatsoever that Alzheimer’s disease can be transmitted between individuals during activities of daily life or routine medical care.”
The growth hormone treatment implicated in the study was suspended in 1985 after it was found to cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a degenerative brain disorder that leads to dementia and death. The researchers believe that the findings should be used to prevent accidental transmission of disease-related proteins through other medical or surgical procedures in the future.
Dr. Rehan Aziz, a geriatric psychiatrist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, acknowledged the study’s potential evidence for a rare but transmissible form of Alzheimer’s disease. He noted that the study focused on only five Alzheimer’s patients out of over 1,800 individuals who had received growth hormone treatment in this manner. The patients’ young age at the onset of symptoms suggests that they did not have the typical form of Alzheimer’s associated with old age.
The research raises questions about the ability of beta-amyloid protein to propagate itself, leading to worsening Alzheimer’s pathology and memory loss. Christopher Weber, PhD, director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, highlighted the limitations of the study, noting that the small sample size and lack of replication and confirmation require further research to establish credibility.
Weber emphasized that Alzheimer’s disease is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through daily activities or routine medical procedures. However, he stressed the importance of understanding and eliminating all possible risks of pathogen transmission in scientific and clinical communities. This includes thorough sterilization of surgical instruments and avoiding the introduction of amyloid-beta into people’s brains.
In conclusion, the UCL study has shed light on the potential link between growth hormone treatments and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. While the transmission of amyloid beta identified in the study is rare, it is crucial to take precautions to prevent any accidental introduction of disease-related proteins into individuals’ brains. Continued research is needed to further explore this phenomenon and ensure the safety of medical procedures.
