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New Research Reveals Five UK Individuals Diagnosed Decades After Childhood Therapy
A groundbreaking study has identified five individuals in the United Kingdom who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a direct result of medical treatments they received during childhood. The findings, published online in Nature Medicine on January 29, mark the first known instances of Alzheimer’s acquired through medical interventions in living people. However, experts caution that these findings should be approached with careful consideration.
The affected individuals were treated as children with human growth hormone derived from cadaver pituitary glands (c-hGH) between 1958 and 1985. This therapy, administered to an estimated 30,000 people worldwide, was primarily intended for those with genetic disorders and growth hormone deficiencies. The treatment was abruptly halted in 1985 after three U.S. patients died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which was transmitted through contaminated c-hGH batches carrying disease-causing prions.
Building on previous research, the investigators revealed that these c-hGH batches also contained amyloid-beta protein, known for its association with Alzheimer’s disease. The five cases were identified and reviewed by experts at a prion clinic, led by the study’s principal investigator, Dr. John Collinge, director of the University of College London Institute of Prion Diseases.
The study underscores the rarity of amyloid-beta transmission through medical or surgical procedures, emphasizing that there is currently no evidence of such transmission during routine patient care or daily activities. Despite the uniqueness of these cases, the researchers believe their findings warrant a review of measures to prevent accidental transmission of amyloid-beta through other medical or surgical procedures.
Lead author Dr. Collinge stated in a press release, “Our findings also suggest that Alzheimer’s and some other neurological conditions share similar disease processes to CJD, and this may have important implications for understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease in the future.”
The cases presented a range of symptoms, with individuals developing neurologic symptoms consistent with AD between ages 38 and 55. Three of the patients, including two with AD, have since passed away. The study also highlighted the diverse presentations, reinforcing the complexity of iatrogenic Alzheimer’s disease.
In an accompanying editorial, experts expressed a measure of skepticism, acknowledging the diverse and complicated nature of the cases. They emphasized the importance of continued caution in surgical instrument preparation, tissue handling, and therapeutic biologics derived from human sources.
Christopher Weber, PhD, director of global science initiatives for the Alzheimer’s Association, commented on the study, highlighting the importance of safety measures to prevent accidental amyloid-beta transmission. He noted that while the transferability of amyloid-beta has been observed in previous research, the study reinforces the need for thorough sterilization of surgical instruments and rigorous safety measures.
The study was supported by various organizations, including the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the Stroke Association. Dr. Collinge disclosed his role as a shareholder and director of D-Gen, Ltd., a company focusing on prion disease diagnosis, decontamination, and therapeutics. The editorial authors reported no conflicts of interest.
