Skin patch used to treat Alzheimer's

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists have found a transdermal approach is safe and effective in clearing brain plaque in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease.

The University of South Florida researchers say use of a skin patch vaccination might offer a simpler way of preventing or treating the neurodegenerative disease, with less likelihood of adverse immune reactions.

Although previous studies showed vaccinating against the beta amyloid protein can reduce Alzheimer-like pathology, including certain cognitive deficits, the University of South Florida scientists say their study is the first to demonstrate transdermal immunization may be effective in reducing pathology.

The Alzheimer's vaccine works by triggering the immune system to recognize beta amyloid -- a protein that builds up in and attacks the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Previous human research on an injectable Alzheimer's vaccine was suspended when the initial clinical trial caused brain inflammation and death in some patients.

The University of South Florida researchers targeted the skin as the route of vaccine delivery in mice bred to develop age-related brain degeneration that mimics Alzheimer's. They found transdermal immunization does not appear to trigger toxicities associated with past immunization strategies.

The study appears in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.