It is a condition attributed, in hushed rumors, to everything from touching a mysterious tree to the revenge of a wronged priest. Cuartas, her gray raisin of a face grave, takes care of three of her afflicted children. Another son, Oderis, 50, denies that his memory is dying, that he remembers to buy only one thing at a time: milk, not milk and plantains.
Cuartas said. It is the most terrifying illness on the face of the earth. Most family members come from one Andes region, Antioquia. Geography, and Basque ancestry, have isolated people here, who call themselves paisas, countrymen.
Large families, and intermarriage, have accelerated the spread. But it turns out that both forms produce nearly identical brain changes and symptoms. They will give a to-be-determined drug or vaccine and see if it prevents memory loss or brain atrophy.
Devising an Early Attack. Current drugs, for people who are already impaired, show little benefit. Now scientists want to attack earlier. John C. But preventive research is difficult. Also, because people would not be sick when treated, potential negative side effects of drugs are especially worrisome. Colombia appears to be the best option.
They can give treatment about five years before expected memory loss, then see if brain changes or symptoms occur later or not at all. Buckholtz said. Scientists consider Colombians not only valuable subjects but also deserving ones. Eric M. Scientists are recruiting participants, hoping to start testing next year. Family members without symptoms, roughly 38 to 45 years old, will be gene-tested, given treatment or placebos, and monitored with memory tests, brain scans and other measures.
