Injections of antibodies into the brain may ultimately provide one way of fighting the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to a report from the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons.

"Alzheimer's disease alters an area of the brain called the amygdala that controls a person's memory, learning, knowledge of words, language, information about the world, recognition of familiar places and people and skilled motor behaviors," said Dr. Terry Lichtor, author of the study and member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

One of the critical substances that causes many Alzheimer's symptoms -- amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) -- is naturally produced in the brain. But Abeta sometimes accumulates excessively in the wrong place or undergoes changes making it uniquely harmful, causing cells to deteriorate.

Lichtor and his colleages, in a study using mice, injected an antibody that attaches to Abeta and stops its harmful effects by promoting its elimination from the brain.

The antibody was injected into the brains of the experimental group of mice, while the control animals received either a single injection of saline or no injection.

Initial results of the study documented that the antibody was distributed throughout the brain within 24 hours.

"The important result of this study is that injection into the brain of antibody against Abeta prevented the formation of plaques that are the common pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease," Lichtor said.

"Stereotactic intracranial procedures may offer new treatments for this disease in the near future."

Other Sources: American Association of Neurological Surgeons