If his work with brain cells in rats holds up, patients one day might take the acid in pill form as a shield against Alzheimer's. But Markesbery also devotes hours each week to working directly with individual patients, performing diagnostic tests to determine whether they have Alzheimer's and offering advice on treatment and coping. We can do that because NIH pays the bills, and we don't have to make money on it. Alzheimer's remains a mystery, but hopes are growing. Experts now think that buildups of free radicals toxic forms of oxygen may lead to the massive brain-cell death that characterizes the disease.
Vaccines appear at least theoretically possible.
Markesbery recommends such a regimen for his patients. He doubts that a cure is likely, but thinks that ways to slow or even prevent Alzheimer's could be ahead. Lately, Markesbery has been slowed down by some health problems of his own, including a serious lung infection and a bout with prostate cancer. He was distressed to find that he could no longer work 18-hour days. We're a small state institution that's been able to compete with some of the largest.