Studies on the effectiveness of the vaccine in people have not yet begun. The brains and immune systems of mice are very different from those in humans. It is not known whether AN-1792 will prove effective in treating plaques and memory loss in people. Plaques are not the only change found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Another change is the buildup of neurofibrillary tangles.
Tangles refer to the twists and tangles that occur inside nerve cells in the brain.
Fla. The current vaccine research addresses only the plaques, not tangles. Scientists are uncertain whether tangles will still develop if plaque formation is halted. Because AN-1792 is still in early stages of research, it will take several years to determine if the vaccine is safe and effective for humans. View the Feature Archive Return to the Health Library Home Legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use .