Even with advances in medical science, certain diseases cannot be cured despite advances in medicine. These include autoimmune conditions like Lupus and Crohn’s as well as neurological disorders like ALS or Alzheimer’s.
An incurable disease is defined as one in which treatment successfully resolves its health problem without returning in future episodes, such as medication, surgery or therapy. These treatments could include medication, surgery or therapy as examples of cure-able conditions.
Infectious diseases
Bacterial infections are illnesses caused when harmful bacteria (also called pathogens) infiltrate areas of the body where they should not be, leading to inflammation or poisoning through toxic releases known as toxins. When they reach the bloodstream, sepsis sets in. This life-threatening condition results in fluid build-up which puts pressure on organs and may damage them irreparably. Harmful bacteria may enter via an infected person or animal bites, food contaminations (including water contaminations or surfaces contaminations), or through use of certain drugs like steroids and antibiotics), when taken incorrectly.
Pathogens that cause infectious diseases include viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Viruses are tiny protein-protected packets containing either RNA or DNA and they only reproduce inside living cells, making reproduction impossible without humans as their host – like measles or HIV for instance. Bacteria are microscopic rods found living within our tissues which cause inflammation and toxins – such as in strep throat, pneumonia or cellulitis infections of the skin.
Fungi are spore-forming organisms that can lead to fungal infections such as ringworm and athlete’s foot. Protozoa and helminths, on the other hand, are worm-like organisms which may cause diarrhea, malaria or hookworm infestations.
Pathogens can spread from person to person through direct contact with mucous membranes or bodily fluids (either directly or indirectly), touching an infected surface touched by another person who then touches eyes, nose or mouth of someone infected and touching those parts again, touching their eyes nose or mouth – or airborne pathogens can spread via dust particles, droplets or residue that floats briefly – this is how diseases such as TB and rubella spread.
People at risk for contracting infectious diseases include those with compromised immune systems – this includes babies, young children, adults over 60 and those taking suppressive medicines such as chemotherapy or HIV medication – along with travelers to places where infectious diseases are more prevalent. Prevention measures include receiving immunizations for infectious diseases as well as practicing good hygiene such as washing hands often and covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells rapidly proliferate and divide without control, often spreading to other tissues or organs via metastasis. While its cause remains unknown, researchers believe genetic and environmental factors may contribute. As normal cells die or become damaged they are typically replaced by new ones with mutations in their DNA that continue growing unchecked until eventually creating tumors in one part of your body – these masses of cells known as tumors may grow large enough that surgery becomes necessary to remove it completely.
Normal cells are protected by various systems to keep them free of cancer, including apoptosis, helper molecules and potentially senescence or aging. While these safeguards can help stop cancerous cells from proliferating further and spreading further afield, when cells contain mutations they will continue to proliferate and spread further and can even turn surrounding cells malignant.
Dependent upon the type of cancer, treatment methods vary accordingly. Surgery may remove tumors; other cancers can be managed through taking drugs that either block new cell formation or kill existing ones; others such as mesothelioma require prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers before treating can begin successfully.
Why some cancers are harder to cure than others is because their DNA contains more mutations than usual. When DNA copies during cell division, mutations tend to be rare – yet with cancer these mutations become more frequent, leading rogue cells to divide without stopping or altering function and becoming cancerous tumors that spread and grow throughout the body.
Despite these challenges, doctors remain dedicated to finding better cancer treatments and cures. Their focus includes studying causes like studying genomes of both those living with and those without cancer as well as testing new medicines that could aid treatment of cancers.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative disease refers to any progressive condition that slowly destroys neurons in your brain and nervous system, impairing your ability to think, move, breathe and even communicate; leading to symptoms like weakness and paralysis as well as dementia, vision loss and impaired speech – in effect becoming a relentless and potentially lethal form of dementia that eventually consumes you life.
Though many neurodegenerative diseases aren’t curable, they may still be managed and even prevented from progressing further. If you have a neurological condition, it’s essential that you discuss lifestyle adjustments and treatments with your healthcare provider that could alleviate symptoms, decrease pain levels and enhance mobility.
Neurodegenerative diseases tend to be genetic in origin and often linked with medical conditions like alcoholism, strokes or tumors; exposure to certain chemicals, toxins or viruses also plays a part. Once started, these diseases often worsen over time and many cannot be reversed.
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, Parkinson’s, ALS, motor neuron diseases and Huntington’s are difficult to cure; diagnosis is difficult and treatments have difficulty entering the brain. Yet key pathways may exist for all these conditions – protein misfolding/aggregation; inclusion bodies (amyloid plaques/tangles/lewy bodies); oxidative stress/mitochondrial dysfunction/inflammation etc.
Neurodegenerative diseases can be devastating for those living alone or with family members who are affected. When effective treatments become available, however, it can provide both relief and hope to those dealing with such illness.
Penn Medicine stands out among major health systems by having an experienced team dedicated to managing novel treatments, having successfully navigated similar transitions with cancer treatments in 2017. We’re ready to adapt and scale up for these new therapies just like we did for targeted gene therapies when they first made an appearance in 2017. It is an exciting time for neurosciences and personalized medicine, yet challenging at the same time; therefore we must be adaptable and take advantage of any opportunities presented us.
Genetic diseases
Genetic diseases are conditions caused by mutations (or “alterations”) to one of your genes, which alter how your body functions and manifest themselves through symptoms that vary in severity. Some genetic diseases are passed down from your parents while others arise within you as time progresses.
Genetic disorders can negatively impact all aspects of health – physical, emotional and social wellbeing alike. While not curable, treatments can help manage symptoms and avoid further complications.
There are thousands of genetic diseases. Most are complex in nature and involve mutations to multiple genes with varied effects on health. Some genetic conditions are recessive – both parents must carry the gene with a mutation for it to pass to their offspring – such as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis; other disorders are autosomal dominant (meaning one parent carrying it can pass it to offspring), such as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, or familial hypercholesterolemia.
Nearly half of spontaneous abortions are the result of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome caused by the deletion of DNA in one chromosome, as well as other abnormalities which can contribute to autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Many genetic diseases are monogenic, or caused by single mutations to a single gene. Mutated genes may lead to conditions like thalassemia or cystic fibrosis; additional monogenic conditions include Huntington’s disease, Tay-Sachs disease and Cri du Chat syndrome.
Some diseases are polygenic, meaning they’re caused by mutations in multiple genes. Such conditions typically exhibit more complex inheritance patterns than Mendelian diseases.
Many genetic diseases do not yet have cures, though research into potential treatments continues apace. One such gene, p53, typically prevents cancer cells from growing; however, mutant versions can lead to tumor development. By replacing its defective version with another healthy gene can make your cells aware of diseased ones and stop them from turning into tumors.