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Jong-hoon Lee, Su-hee Choi, Chul Joong Lee, Sang-suk Oh; Recovery of Dementia Syndrome following Treatment of Brain Inflammation. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord Extra 15 June 2020; 10 (1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1159/000504880
[시뮬레이터 안내 및 연구 배경 설명]
과거의 수수께끼: 일본 한센병 요양소 연구 (Japanese Sanatorium Study) 1990년대 일본의 역학 조사에서 놀라운 사실이 발견되었습니다. 한센병(나병)을 앓고 있는 고령 환자들에게서 알츠하이머 치매 발병률이 이례적으로 낮았던 것입니다. 당시 세계 의학계는 "한센병을 일으키는 균(Mycobacterium leprae)이 치매를 막아주는 것일까?"라는 잘못된 가설(Null Hypothesis)을 세우며 혼란에 빠졌습니다.
수수께끼의 해답: 서울 연구 (The Seoul Study - 단일 사례 장기 추적) 우리는 한센병 '균'이 아닌, 그들이 평생 복용했던 치료제인 '댑손(Dapsone)'에 주목했습니다. 이를 증명하기 위해 한센병이 없는 일반 경도인지장애(MCI) 환자를 대상으로 10년이 넘는 장기 추적 관찰을 진행했습니다.
투여기 (2010~2015): 댑손을 복용한 환자는 알츠하이머로 악화되지 않고 건강한 일상생활을 유지했습니다.
중단기 (2016~2018): 약물 생산 중단으로 복용을 멈추자, 환자는 단기간 내에 알츠하이머병으로 급격히 악화되었습니다. 기존 치매약(Donepezil)은 부작용만 낳을 뿐이었습니다.
재투여기 (2018~현재): 해외 긴급 수입을 통해 댑손을 다시 투여하자, 이상 행동이 사라지고 환자는 기적적으로 스스로 식사를 준비하고 외출하는 이전의 일상생활(MCI 상태)로 완전히 회복했습니다.
연구의 결론: 치매는 '가역적인 염증 질환'입니다. 위 시뮬레이터에서 볼 수 있듯, 알츠하이머병의 핵심은 아밀로이드 단백질의 축적 자체가 아니라, 뇌세포에서 발생하는 과산화수소(H₂O₂) 유발 염증 반응입니다. 이 염증의 연결 고리를 댑손과 같은 억제제를 통해 끊어내면, 치매 증후군은 비가역적 파괴가 아닌 다시 원래의 일상으로 되돌릴 수 있는(Reversible) 질환임이 임상적으로 증명되었습니다.
Interactive Simulator Legend & Causal Framework
Interactive Simulator Legend & Causal Framework
The Historical Enigma: The Japanese Leprosarium Confounding In the 1990s, epidemiological surveys across Japanese sanatoriums noted an exceptionally low prevalence of dementia syndrome among elderly leprosy patients. Early interpretations erroneously posited that Mycobacterium leprae infection itself served as the protective factor against Alzheimer’s pathology. This structural confusion stalled clinical translation for decades.
The Analytical Breakthrough: The Seoul Longitudinal Cohort Study To resolve this enigma, our group focused on Dapsone—the benchmark anti-leprosy agent taken continuously by these individuals—which acts as a potent competitive inhibitor of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and a suppressor of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-mediated inflammatory cascades. We established a rigorous 10-year prospective cohort framework tracking a non-leprosy patient with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), thereby completely excluding leprosy-related biological confounding. * Therapy Phase (2010–2015): Under continuous daily dapsone exposure, neuroinflammatory cascades were controlled, stabilizing memory deficits and preserving total functional independence. * Discontinuation Phase (2016–2018): Following a domestic manufacturing halt of dapsone in South Korea, treatment ceased. Unchecked neuroinflammation triggered rapid clinical decline, culminating in an advanced Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and severe intolerance to standard acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) care. * Re-administration Phase (2018–Present): Sourcing the agent via the Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center allowed for immediate neuroinflammatory suppression. The patient demonstrated an unprecedented reversal of functional deficits, full clearing of behavioral impairments (NPI-Q normalization), and complete re-attainment of independent daily living (K-IADL normalization).
Causal Conclusion: Dementia is a Reversible Inflammatory Disease As demonstrated by the interactive simulator nodes, the fundamental driver of cognitive impairment in dementia syndrome is not an irreversible structural loss, but a dynamically sustained H₂O₂/MPO-driven neuroinflammatory microenvironment. Interrupting this reactive cascade halts ongoing neuronal destruction and unmasks a substantial, highly plastic therapeutic window, proving that cognitive deficits can be successfully reversed to an independent functional state.
설명 포인트
설명 포인트
일반인과 의료진 모두에게 이 게시글이 갖는 의의를 다음과 같이 명확히 짚어줍니다.
아리셉트(표준 치료)의 한계: 단순히 인지 기능 저하를 막지 못한 것을 넘어 무기력과 섬망, 배변 실수 등 환자의 삶의 질을 파괴했음을 대조적으로 보여줍니다.
답손의 가역적 회복력 증명: 뇌세포가 영구적으로 죽은 것이 아니라, '염증'으로 인해 일시적으로 스위치가 꺼져 있던 것임을 증명합니다. 염증(H₂O₂/MPO 축)이 억제되자 환자는 정상적인 인지능력과 일상생활(ADL)을 되찾았습니다.
주치의의 객관적 확인: 환자의 아들이 아닌 제3의 보호자이며, 주치의로서 현재는 '감기 치료' 정도만 할 정도로 치매 증상이 안정화되었음을 객관적으로 뒷받침합니다.
답손과 시메티딘의 동시 투여로 메트헤모글린빈혈증을 예방 및 치료하며 답손/시메티딘 복용을 안전하게 유지했음.
Item 1: The Caregiver's Testimonial
Item 1: The Caregiver's Testimonial
Title: A Caregiver’s Testimonial: My Father’s Recovery with Dapsone Source: Dementia Support Naver Cafe (September 20, 2024)
"My father, born in 1935, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in November 2020 and was prescribed Aricept (an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor).
Following the prescription, his symptoms worsened drastically. He suffered from severe lethargy, becoming bedridden to the point of developing bedsores. He developed incontinence both on the way to the bathroom at home and outdoors, forcing him to wear diapers. His spatiotemporal awareness severely deteriorated, and he showed signs of wandering, attempting to leave the house in the middle of the night claiming it wasn't his home.
In despair, after spending a year reading countless stories of patients who only worsened despite increasing Aricept doses or trying expensive treatments, I learned about Dr. Jong-hoon Lee's research. Feeling we had absolutely nothing to lose, we discontinued his previous medications and started Dapsone therapy in October 2022.
After starting Dapsone, something truly miraculous happened. My father's lethargy vanished entirely, and his incontinence stopped completely. Most importantly, he returned to being the normal father I could converse with. As his symptoms had worsened, he had lost his sense of time and stopped greeting me after work. Now, his condition has improved so much that he knows exactly when I arrive and comes out to greet me again. Previously, he showed no reaction to political news, but now he scolds politicians on TV—proving he perfectly understands the news.
Now entering his 4th year since the dementia diagnosis, my father has no trouble with daily conversations. During a recent clinic visit, I was amazed to see him perfectly understand the ophthalmologist's instructions. He lives a normal elderly life—pulling weeds in the yard, eating well, with no wandering or abnormal symptoms. It is terrifying to think about what state he would be in today if he hadn't taken Dapsone. We live with a deep sense of gratitude to Dr. Lee."
Attending Physician's Note (Dr. Lee): "As his attending physician, I can say that 'no news is good news.' The patient is doing so well that the caregiver only occasionally contacts me for minor cold treatments. Witnessing the caregiver's persistent dedication is truly humbling."
Item 2: Clinical Significance & Legend
Item 2: Clinical Significance & Legend
Title: Clinical Significance: The Reversible Recovery of Dementia Syndrome
This real-world caregiver testimonial serves as compelling clinical evidence of the "Reversible Recovery of Dementia Syndrome." While standard acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI, such as Aricept) failed to halt neuroinflammation and instead exacerbated the patient's physical and cognitive decline (inducing lethargy, incontinence, and delirium), the administration of the MPO-inhibitor Dapsone completely reversed these core dementia symptoms.
This real-life trajectory powerfully underscores the hypothesis that cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease and MCI is dynamically driven by a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)/MPO-induced neuroinflammatory microenvironment. It proves that the progression of dementia is not strictly an irreversible structural destruction of the brain, but a functional suppression that can be reversed to restore full activities of daily living (ADL) when the inflammatory cascade is effectively inhibited.
Simultaneous administration of dapsone and cimetidine prevented and treated methemoglobinemia and safely maintained dapsone/cimetidine use.
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