In animal trials, scientists have demonstrated that a transdermal patch was effective against beta amyloid protein, the halllmark of neurodegerative disease, Alzheimer's Disease.

The Alzheimer's vaccine works by triggering the immune system to recognize Ab -- a protein that abnormally builds up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients - as a foreign invader and attack it.

Previous research on an injectable Alzheimer's vaccine proven safe and effective in an animal model was suspended indefinitely when the initial clinical trial caused brain inflammation and death in a small percentage of patients. These serious side effects were secondary to an autoimmune reaction, which occurred when immune cells aggressively attacked the body's own proteins produced by the vaccine.

In mice, the transdermal immunization with Ab does not appear to trigger specific toxicities associated with past immunization strategies. Further studies will investigate whether the patch may also impart cognitive benefits, i.e. prevent memory loss.

Source: University of South Florida News