New Alzheimers treatment in Germany: REM (regenerative anti-inflammatory macrophages)
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The basis of the development of Alzheimer's disease is a chronic, gradual destruction of the cerebral cortex. Most of all, the areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for the formation of emotions and memory are affected, which causes the following typical symptoms of the disease: forgetfulness, speech disorders, a lack of interest in life, problems communicating with people, and problems with self-care skills. Modern clinical trials have revealed a close relationship between chronic neuroinflammation and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Innovative REM-therapy suppresses neuroinflammation, prevents the development of Alzheimer's disease, and allows for significant improvement in people with this pathology.
Content
- The essence of REM-therapy for Alzheimer's disease
- How is REM-therapy performed for Alzheimer's disease?
- Results of REM-therapy for Alzheimer's disease
- How to get REM-therapy in Germany for Alzheimer's disease?
The essence of REM-therapy for Alzheimer's disease
The principle of REM-therapy is the injection of regenerative macrophages (M2) activated under laboratory conditions into the patient's body. German doctors obtain such macrophages from the patient's own blood cells, which makes the treatment safer and more effective since the patient's own cells do not cause any immune rejection.
Normally, macrophages play an important role in regulating the restoration of all tissues, including nervous tissue and the brain. These accumulate in damaged organs and control their regeneration. This process is disrupted in patients with Alzheimer's disease, as a result of which they develop chronic neuroinflammation, and the damaging tau protein accumulates in the brain.
M2 macrophages, whose regenerative properties German neurologists use, trigger a Th2-type immune response: they activate Th2 T helpers and regulate the amount of pro-inflammatory IgE. It is important that such T helpers be located directly in the tissues and not in the lymphatic system, as in other immune reactions. So they successfully overcome the reliable protective barrier of the brain and are included in its recovery.
REM-therapy thus affects the course of Alzheimer's disease through the following three mechanisms:
- Suppression of chronic neuroinflammation and progressive destruction of brain tissue due to this.
- Facilitation of the removal of tau protein from the brain.
- Facilitation of the restoration of brain neurons.
These processes occur naturally under the influence of the patient's activated macrophages. Thanks to this, the action of the procedure lasts for several months. Its results are preserved for months and years.
How is REM-therapy performed for Alzheimer's disease?
Patients tolerate REM-therapy well. It is carried out in a day clinic. Before starting treatment, German specialists study the results of previous diagnostic examinations, such as brain MRI scans, assessments of cognitive functions, and neurological status testing. Patients from Germany provide medical documents in person, but foreign patients may send them in advance by email. It is important for German doctors to objectively assess the patient's condition before and after REM-therapy in order to make a correct prognosis about the possible degree of recovery of neurological functions.
On the appointed day, a patient comes to the hospital in person, and doctors begin work based on the approved protocol:
- Day 0. A visit to the hospital and a physical examination, blood sampling for serological tests for infections (HIV, hepatitis B and C), a differential blood test to determine the possibility of leukapheresis (blood cell sampling). It is important that leukapheresis can only be performed in the absence of active inflammation in the body due to the full compensation for chronic diseases.
- Day 1. Collection of blood components using leukapheresis. The duration of the procedure is 3-4 hours. Isolation of monocytes from the blood and their cultivation in the hospital's in-house laboratory for 4 days. As a result, doctors receive a large number of regenerative anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2). The patient spends this time at his own discretion because he does not need to stay at the hospital all the time.
- Day 4. An intravenous infusion of a customized vaccine with regenerative macrophages (M2) activated under laboratory conditions. If it is clinically possible, the vaccine is administered endolumbally, that is, into the cerebrospinal fluid. When injected endolumbally, M2 macrophages accumulate faster in the brain.
Whenever required, after a consultation with the doctor on Day 0, maintenance treatment is carried out on the days of cell culture. These can be drugs to improve cerebral circulation, normalize blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and other medicines.
There are currently no absolute contraindications to REM-therapy other than pregnancy. If a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and cancer at the same time, additional consultations with an oncologist are carried out.
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Results of REM-therapy for Alzheimer's disease
The first results of treatment can be assessed after 1 month. This is a Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The score includes a list of 30 simple questions and tasks that are used to assess cognitive functions during the patient's first examination and in dynamics, that is, after treatment.
"Clinical data of German doctors: after the first course of REM-therapy, the MMSE score increases by 30-50%. Almost all patients and their relatives report a subjective improvement in their condition."
The long-term action of regenerative macrophages continuously improves neurological status and quality of life. The patient improves speech and memory, begins to recognize relatives and friends, can read again, shows an interest in life, and emotionally reacts to what is happening.
In each case, German doctors give an individual prognosis regarding recovery. It depends on the initial degree of brain damage, the severity of neurological disorders, the state of cognitive functions, and the age of the patient. REM-therapy can be repeated or combined with neurological rehabilitation to improve the overall treatment outcome.
How to get REM-therapy in Germany for Alzheimer's disease?
To date, innovative REM-therapy is carried out in only a few German hospitals. Most medical facilities do not have this experience, or it is limited to a small number of patients. Residents of Germany with appropriate insurance or self-payment, as well as patients from other countries, can undergo treatment.
You can make your appointment for REM-therapy in Germany on the Booking Health website. Booking Health is a medical website whose team has been organizing the treatment for foreign patients in leading German hospitals for more than 15 years.
In the case of Alzheimer's disease, the Booking Health specialists will help you with the following:
- Selecting a hospital and a doctor specializing in the treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease and REM-therapy
- Conducting a preliminary remote consultation with a doctor and sending him the necessary medical documents
- Reading a treatment program and getting answers to all your medical questions
- Undergoing treatment at a favorable cost without paying additional high taxes for foreign patients (saving up to 50%)
- Arriving for treatment on your preferred dates
- Buying medicines for maintenance treatment if the doctor makes such prescriptions
- Keeping in touch with the doctor after the completion of treatment
- Undergoing neurological rehabilitation when the doctor considers it necessary
You will also benefit from top-class services, including hotel booking, airline tickets and transfers, translation services, and a personal medical coordinator. The Booking Health team will support you at all stages of treatment.
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Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Center for Biotechnology
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