walsh@ihuxi.UUCP (12/09/83)
According to a report on the NBC news and in the Chicago Tribune, the prion, the smallest infectious agent known, appears to have links to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from U of C at SF and San Diego have found that the prion appears to be identical to amyloid, the chemical previously known to be present in victims' brains. Amyloids may be clumps of prions. The amount of amyloid present correlated with the severity of the disease. Most doctors had considered amyloid to be waste products. So far, research shows that prions are composed of only one major protein. No nucleidc acid has been found, making prions peculiar in that nucleic acid is the basic genetic material of living things. This research adds support to the theory that Alheimer's is a slow-virus disease (incubation of up to 30 years or more). It was said that although the new link suggests an infectious casuse, there is no evidence that it could be spread directly from one person to another. This prion business is merely speculation at this point, because of the great resemblance between amyloid and clumps of prions. Further study is needed. But, maybe this will clear up aluminum's reputation in the future. Eating from aluminum is better than eating from lead! :-) B. Walsh (don't throw out all your cookware yet)