fixaging

There have been many different studies which have identified that smoking reduces life expectancy. One particular 50 year study revealed that smoking cuts life expectancy by 10 years. Smoking-related deaths are more likely to be by cancer, and around 88% of deaths from lung cancer are from smoking. At least 50% of smokers will eventually be killed by their habit.

However even if you are still a smoker some of these lost years can be regained by quitting. From the 50 year study it was found:

• Men who quit at 30 died at the same age as non-smokers
• Men who quit at 40 died 1 year earlier than non-smokers
• Men who quit at 50 died 4 years earlier than non-smokers
• Men who quit at 50 died 7 years earlier than non-smokers

Reduced quality of life

Reduced life expectancy is not the only bad feature of smoking though, it also has a negative impact on quality of life, as smoking is associated with a variety of chronic conditions including bronchitis, asthma and high blood pressure. A study in Canada identified that non-smokers lived a significant extra portion of their life disability free. For example, a smoker aged 45 could expect to live another 18 years without some form of disability, while a non-smoker could expect to live another 25 years without a disability.

Effect of number of cigarettes smoked

The following table from the 50 year studies shows the difference the number of cigarettes smoked makes. (Unfortunately as of writing this the table does not display very well, to get it to display properly select the table and copy and paste it into word) In this table cigarettes smokers are grouped into smokers consuming 1-14, 15-24 and >24. The total death rate per year per thousand people for each group was as follows: 29.34(1-14), 34.79(15-24), 45.34(>24). This shows that the more cigarettes smoked the worse the death rate is per year.

Tags: Life expectancy by Matias
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One promising potential treatment for Alzheimer’s has been developing over the past few years. This is using a vaccine to reduce the level of beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid is found to be in high quantities in patients with Alzheimer’s and is theorised to be the main cause of Alzheimer’s. This treatment trains the immune system to recognize and attack beta-amyloid. A compound by Elan named AN-1792 showed promising results in animal models of the disease, and initial human trials where also positive, however development has now stopped as 6% of patients had an averse immune response. The final report into AN-1792 can be found here The results indicated that the treatment reduced the effect of Alzheimer’s.

Elan is now working on a similar compound AAB-001 which they hope will cause a smaller immune response. They are entering into Phase 3 clinical trials. The results of the phase 2 trials will not be done until 2008, however the fact that Elan are going ahead with Phase 3 suggests that it is performing well in Phase 2.

AAB-001 is not the only compound out there, here is an extract from Elan’s fourth quarter report about other compounds which Elan (with partners) has in the pipeline:

Elan, in conjunction with its partners, is moving three compounds for mild to moderate AD through clinical trials: Bapineuzumab (AAB-001), ACC-001, and ELND-005. In distinct ways, these three compounds target A-beta peptide, which is presumed to be a key toxic mediator in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.

With Bapineuzumab (AAB-001, a humanized monoclonal antibody against A-beta peptide), Elan and Wyeth plan to initiate global Phase 3 clinical trials by year-end, Phase 2 studies are ongoing (publicly available data anticipated mid-2008), and Phase 1 trials are underway with a subcutaneous formulation. ACC-001 (an active A-beta immunotherapeutic conjugate), also partnered with Wyeth, is progressing in Phase 2 studies in both Europe and the United States.

Next update on this treatment: 2008

Tags: Alzheimer's by Matias
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