Five Alzheimer's patients developed disease from decades-old medical treatment, doctors find

A new study conducted by doctors in the UK has uncovered a potential link between Alzheimer's Disease and medical treatment received decades earlier.

Researchers at the National Prion Clinic at University College London Hospital disclosed that five individuals in the UK developed Alzheimer's as a consequence of growth hormone treatment derived from the brains of deceased donors.

The growth hormone, known as cadaver-derived human growth hormone (c-hGH), was administered to at least 1,848 people in the UK between 1959 and 1985, primarily for height enhancement.

The investigation, published in the journal Nature Medicine, reveals that all eight individuals referred to the National Prion Clinic had received c-hGH during childhood, with symptoms of dementia manifesting between the ages of 38 and 55

Notably, the study rules out sporadic Alzheimer's and genetic inheritance as contributing factors, pointing instead to the injection of material contaminated with amyloid-beta protein through growth hormone treatment.

Professor John Collinge, leader of the research and head of the University College London Institute of Prion Diseases, emphasized that there is no public health risk today as growth hormone is now synthetically produced. He clarified that Alzheimer's itself is not transmissible in daily life or routine medical care.

No risk of disease transmission

The study's co-author, Professor Jonathan Schott, Chief Medical Officer at Alzheimer's Research UK, underscored that there is no risk of disease transmission between individuals or through regular medical procedures. Despite the unique insights gained from this research, he emphasized that there is no need for public concern regarding routine medical care.

While the findings shed light on potential disease mechanisms, researchers stress that there have been no reported cases of Alzheimer's linked to other medical or surgical procedures.

The study's significance lies in providing valuable insights that could guide further research into the causes of more typical, late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Professor Bart De Strooper from the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL urged caution in interpreting the results, emphasizing the ongoing importance of reviewing evidence related to public health.