Epistemological and moral lessons from the history of neurodegenerative diseases

摘要: The problem of the evolutionary causes neurodegenerative disease is something new in physiopathology and gerontology panoramas. Nevertheless several approaches are beginning to take it into account. increased frequency diseases related advanced age explained terms absence selective pressure adaptation environment on genetically determined traits that appear after reproductive age; or by postulating a consequence antagonistic pleitropism else trade-off. study age-related particular can afford important heuristic stimuli towards an understanding complex mechanisms through which such develop. history AD quite representative epistemological obstacles conceptualization as pathologies had overcome order come near more pertinent biological explanation. physiopathological approach tendentially ran risk deviating mechanistic single-cause explanations, could not account for intrinsically variable pathological clinical signs, possibly overlapping other phenomena. concept developed interaction among biological, social views, was driving force behind reconceptualization dementia. In light etiopathogenetic framework emerging from basic research evolutionary-oriented outlook, also therapeutic preventive strategies comprehensive envisaged need be evaluated context our constraints. Waiting stem cells anti-amyloid vaccines, most emphasized opportunity possibility applying tools predictive medicine diseases. A number misunderstandings mark training geneticists, medical practitioners public health experts, who learn genetic explanation being founded form determinism If instead accepted its dimension this implies decidedly complete conception man. genetic-evolutionary proves compatible with prevention cultural intervention than traditional medical-scientific philosophy focuses mainly treatments addressing proximate etiological pathogenetic mechanisms.