Method of treatment of alzheimer's disease and device therefor

Abstract

A method and device for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) is disclosed. The method involves the removal of circulating autoantibodies of a biochemical marker or markers, specifically human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), in bodily fluid, preferably blood or a blood product. The invention further includes a device or process of immune system modulation effective for autoantibody removal.

what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for mitigating the progression of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) comprising: 
 determining the presence in circulating body fluid of at least one biochemical marker indicated in the progression of AD; and    removing an amount of said at least one marker effective to mitigate said disease.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step of removing includes at least one method selected from the group consisting of extracorporeal immunoadsorption, plasmaphoresis, hemophoresis, plasma exchange, and immune system modulation.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said biochemical marker is at least one marker selected from the group consisting of autoantibodies to human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).  
     
     
         4 . A device for mitigating the progression of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) comprising: 
 means for removal of at least one marker from circulating body fluid    whereby said removal includes capture of protein specific antibodies.