Posted on 05/15/2014 8:01:03 AM PDT by JoeProBono
An antidepressant drug appears to deter the formation of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published today (May 14) in Science Translational Medicine. A team led by Yvette Sheline of the University of Pennsylvania studied the effects of citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), on mice and a small group of people.
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles can be found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, but it’s not clear if the plaques are precursors to neurodegenerative problems or an effect of them. Citalopram, which is marketed as Celexa and Cipramil, is typically used to treat depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sheline’s team had previously determined that SSRIs work through serotonin receptors on extracellular receptor kinase. “This results in an up-regulation of alpha-secretase, an enzyme that cleaves amyloid, and therefore reduces its production,” Sheline told The Scientist in an e-mail. “Every SSRI we have tested in mouse models has the same effect on lowering amyloid concentrations.”.........
So those taking acid reflux meds and statins should add antidepressants to their regime?
Antidepressant Could Be Prophylactic for Alzheimer’s
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If you have Alzheimer’s, do your really need a prophylactic?
Wouldn’t you just forget WHY you need it?
Now the pharmaceutical industry can sell psychotropic drugs to millions is scared baby-boomers. Well done!
“We’ve got a pill for that”
Good, ironically, I’ve been on all three for years. This article is good news to me.
Avoid Alzheimers but get depressed? Antidepressants make you depressed.
This is really a stupid idea.
There was prior research where they injected Amaloid Beta into mice with MS. it cured the mice of MS. I believe the plaques are a response, not the cause of alzheimers.
“Steinman warns that curing mice with an MS-like condition is just the first step on a long and potentially bumpy road to developing a therapy for people with the disease.”
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22128-alzheimers-villain-cures-multiple-sclerosis-in-mice.html
I’m on all three so will live forever.
Does it reduce plaques or does it reduces symptoms? It’s important because the amount of plaque does not correlate well with severity of symptoms.
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