Hearing about cures to conditions like cancer and Alzheimer's is invigorating and that is exactly what is happening this week out of Case Western Reserve University. The school announced its latest findings that a new treatment may rapidly help to reduce the plaque buildup that occurs in the brain during the early stages of Alzheimer's. The study could mean that for those who have this condition, it is possible to reverse the effects of this plaque.

At the university, scientists used a cancer treating drug called bexarotene on mice displaying the same characteristics that humans have in Alzheimer's. When they used the medication, they had stunning results. In a short period of time - just 72 hours - a total clearance of this plaque occurred. It will likely be years before the same results are seen in humans, if these trials get underway. There's no guarantee the drug will work the same way in humans but the fact that it worked so well in mice is a good sign.

The condition known as Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5.4 million Americans. Each 69 seconds, another person is diagnosed with the condition. It is a growing problem especially as the population continues to age. The condition is caused by plaque building up in the brain which, over time, becomes debilitating. This study may be one of the most interesting in that it offers stunning results. There are no current treatments or cures for the condition and medications available only slow the progression of it. It can be life threatening as it progresses.