THIS EPISODE OF LIFE NOGGIN WAS FILMED IN  FRONT OF A SOMEWHAT ALIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

[AUDIENCE CHEERS]

Thank you thank you!

For over 200 years, vaccines have  been protecting you humans from lots  

of different diseases by helping your bodies  build immunity in case you come into contact  

with them. Kinda sorta like the restraining  order i put on Mocko, my barely evil twin!

[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]

Yes. He will go to jail if he violates it. Yes.

Now, scientists are developing vaccines to fight  off harmful components created within your bodies,  

ones that are capable of causing organ  failure and diseases like Alzheimer's.

These components are called amyloids. [AUDIENCE BOOS]

Yes! Yes! Correct call with the booing!

Amyloids are damaged molecules that  have deformed and become sticky. When  

these sticky substances attach to organs or  tissues, they can cause a lot of trouble.

They buildup between the cells and make it  difficult for the organ to work effectively,  

which can result in organ failure.

[AUDIENCE GASPS]

This can happen in many  different parts of the body.

For instance, the human brain contains tens  of billions of interconnected cells called  

neurons that process and transmit information.  But when beta-amyloid proteins stick together  

in small chains that are abnormal but still able  to stay dissolved in the fluid bathing the brain,  

they make it difficult for the neurons  to communicate and function properly and  

also cause the neurons to create other abnormal  proteins that eventually result in their death.

As you age, more and more of these soluble  beta-amyloid chains(called oligomers) are formed.  

But in people with Alzheimer's disease,  this accumulation happens much faster,  

leading to the death of more and more brain cells  and the loss of one's memory and thinking skills.

But there are ways to remove amyloid  oligomers from the brain. And one of  

the methods scientists have  been exploring are vaccines.

[AUDIENCE CHEERS]

Yes! Yes! We like vaccines! They're  the reason you're not sitting in an  

iron lung right now watching this video.

These kinds of vaccines work the same  way as a vaccine against an infectious  

disease–by stimulating the immune system to create  antibodies that capture and remove their target.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] In this case, that target is amyloids.

[AUDIENCE BOOS] Yeah! Throw your digital tomatoes at them!

While there have been some promising results  showing a reduction in the number of beta amyloid  

oligomers in mice, scientists are still working  on making an effective vaccine for humans.,

Another treatment method is injecting  pre-made antibodies into the body. This  

is called infusion therapy and there  is already one of these medications  

that has received accelerated approval by  the FDA after clinical studies found that  

it significantly slowed the progression  of Alzheimer's disease., Another one was  

recently reported to work even better and is  expected to get the FDA seal of approval soon.

[AUDIENCE CLAPS] Yeah.  

I know! It's not just mice getting the special  treatment this time! Things are happening people!

But the possibilities don't end there.

Scientists have found even  more effective antibodies,  

called catalytic antibodies or catabodies.

Instead of binding to an amyloid to begin the  destruction process, they simply break it into  

smaller, harmless pieces. This lets one antibody  do the work of many antibodies in much less time.

In fact, researchers believe that  one catabody could destroy over  

40,000 amyloids before it's  eliminated by the body.

So, look out amyloids, your days are numbered! 

Just like Mocko's days are numbered  after violating my restraining order!

[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] Oh no. I'm about to hurt badly!

[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] So, only if you're comfortable  

with sharing your experience, let me know in the  comment section below, what is one condition that  

you've been suffering from. Maybe we can make  a video about it and shed some light on it!

If you want to learn more,  

check out the incredible work being  done by SENS Research Foundation,  

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As always, my name is Blocko, this has been  Life Noggin, don't forget to keep on thinking!