between ages 24 and 28. At age 47, those afflicted by the Paisa mutation descend into full-blown Alzheimer's, as their loved ones become caretakers. For the last 10 years of life, carriers experience verbal/memory impairment, behavioral changes, and seizures, a chilling prospect for Natalia Villegas.2 “How long have I got, till I’m 35?” the 22-year old asks. With the disease present in both parent’s families, she realizes her extraordinary risk. In her town of Yarumal marriage options are often limited; few see intermarriage as a catalyst to the spread of AD. Villegas acquiesces, “There is no way out.”
Some carriers, though, cannot sympathize with Natalia Villegas’ fear of the future. Due to misconceptions about Alzheimer's and little genetic counseling, they are unaware or refuse to believe in their susceptibility to AD– only those who self-inflict pain or touch the bark of a rare tree can live in fear. Take Mr. Oderis Villegas, who laughs when asked about his risk of Alzheimer's. Mr. Villegas’ giddy agreement to an examination from Medellín neurologist Dr. Francisco Lopera contradicts the declining ability of his brain:
“‘When were you born?’ Dr. Lopera asked.
‘April 1960.’
‘How old are you?’
‘Close to 70, right?’
‘You have a good memory?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Dr. Lopera listed three sentences: ‘The boy walks down the street,’ ‘The man drinks coffee,’ ‘Oranges grow on trees.’
‘What was the first?’
‘The boy drinks coffee.’
‘The second?’
‘The children walk on trees.’”1
With this, Mr. Villegas unknowingly falls victim to “the foolishness,” a cruel, inexplicable disease that once could not be helped by Dr. Lopera limited capabilities as a neurologist. Frustrated that he could only provide support and medications for side effects suffered by Alzheimer's patients, Dr. Lopera launched a $100 million drug trial to target and take preventive action against the disease’s cause.
The trial involves 300 Colombian volunteers: 100 of whom are Paisa mutation carriers given a drug, 100 are Paisa mutation carriers given a placebo, and 100 are non-carriers given a placebo. The promising drug, crenezumab, clears the brain of amyloid plaques which cause AD. Unaware of whether they carry and are being treated for the mutation, volunteers are injected with the drug every two weeks for five years and monitored with memory tests and brain scans– results arrive in 2021.