Subtitles section Play video
-
This video is sponsored by our friends over at SENS Research Foundation!
-
THIS EPISODE OF LIFE NOGGIN WAS FILMED IN FRONT OF A SOMEWHAT ALIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE
-
[AUDIENCE CHEERS]
-
Thank you thank you!
-
For over 200 years, vaccines have been protecting you humans from lots
-
of different diseases by helping your bodies build immunity in case you come into contact
-
with them. Kinda sorta like the restraining order i put on Mocko, my barely evil twin!
-
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
-
Yes. He will go to jail if he violates it. Yes.
-
Now, scientists are developing vaccines to fight off harmful components created within your bodies,
-
ones that are capable of causing organ failure and diseases like Alzheimer's.
-
These components are called amyloids. [AUDIENCE BOOS]
-
Yes! Yes! Correct call with the booing!
-
Amyloids are damaged molecules that have deformed and become sticky. When
-
these sticky substances attach to organs or tissues, they can cause a lot of trouble.
-
They buildup between the cells and make it difficult for the organ to work effectively,
-
which can result in organ failure.
-
[AUDIENCE GASPS]
-
This can happen in many different parts of the body.
-
For instance, the human brain contains tens of billions of interconnected cells called
-
neurons that process and transmit information. But when beta-amyloid proteins stick together
-
in small chains that are abnormal but still able to stay dissolved in the fluid bathing the brain,
-
they make it difficult for the neurons to communicate and function properly and
-
also cause the neurons to create other abnormal proteins that eventually result in their death.
-
As you age, more and more of these soluble beta-amyloid chains(called oligomers) are formed.
-
But in people with Alzheimer's disease, this accumulation happens much faster,
-
leading to the death of more and more brain cells and the loss of one's memory and thinking skills.
-
But there are ways to remove amyloid oligomers from the brain. And one of
-
the methods scientists have been exploring are vaccines.
-
[AUDIENCE CHEERS]
-
Yes! Yes! We like vaccines! They're the reason you're not sitting in an
-
iron lung right now watching this video.
-
These kinds of vaccines work the same way as a vaccine against an infectious
-
disease–by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies that capture and remove their target.
-
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] In this case, that target is amyloids.
-
[AUDIENCE BOOS] Yeah! Throw your digital tomatoes at them!
-
While there have been some promising results showing a reduction in the number of beta amyloid
-
oligomers in mice, scientists are still working on making an effective vaccine for humans.,
-
Another treatment method is injecting pre-made antibodies into the body. This
-
is called infusion therapy and there is already one of these medications
-
that has received accelerated approval by the FDA after clinical studies found that
-
it significantly slowed the progression of Alzheimer's disease., Another one was
-
recently reported to work even better and is expected to get the FDA seal of approval soon.
-
[AUDIENCE CLAPS] Yeah.
-
I know! It's not just mice getting the special treatment this time! Things are happening people!
-
But the possibilities don't end there.
-
Scientists have found even more effective antibodies,
-
called catalytic antibodies or catabodies.
-
Instead of binding to an amyloid to begin the destruction process, they simply break it into
-
smaller, harmless pieces. This lets one antibody do the work of many antibodies in much less time.
-
In fact, researchers believe that one catabody could destroy over
-
40,000 amyloids before it's eliminated by the body.
-
So, look out amyloids, your days are numbered!
-
Just like Mocko's days are numbered after violating my restraining order!
-
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] Oh no. I'm about to hurt badly!
-
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] So, only if you're comfortable
-
with sharing your experience, let me know in the comment section below, what is one condition that
-
you've been suffering from. Maybe we can make a video about it and shed some light on it!
-
If you want to learn more,
-
check out the incredible work being done by SENS Research Foundation,
-
our sponsor of this video! Click the first link in the description and show your support!
-
Please do all the things that help this channel grow! We really appreciate it!
-
Psst! You can get turned into a life noggin character, seriously!
-
Find the gleam contest link in the description to enter!
-
Click here to watch this video we did on cancer potentially meeting its match,
-
or click here to watch this video!
-
You can also check out Lifespan, the team that powers life noggin, down in the description!
-
As always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin, don't forget to keep on thinking!
