Posted on 11/03/2021 7:14:14 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Two drugs approved decades ago not only counteract brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease in animal models, the same therapeutic combination may also improve cognition.
A promising series of early studies is highlighting two well known medicine cabinet standbys—gemfibrosil, an old-school cholesterol-lowering drug, and retinoic acid, a vitamin A derivative. Gemfibrosil, is sold as Lopid and while it's still used, it is not widely prescribed. Doctors now prefer to prescribe statins to lower cholesterol. Retinoic acid has been used in various formulations to treat everything from acne to psoriasis to cancer.
The two drugs are being studied for their robust impact on the brain and a potential new role that could one day thrust them into fighting what is now an incurable brain disease. Both medications have an uncanny capability to zero in on the brain's astrocytes, cells that originally got their name because they look like stars. But astrocytes are intimately involved in a key process that progressively—and insidiously—destroys the brain.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have found that astrocytes may be responsible for the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ), the gooey plaque that damages neurons. As a result, these star-like cells aid in the cascade of deleterious events that rob people of their sense of self, their memories, and ultimately steals their lives.
The team of medical investigators also has discovered that gemfibrozil and retinoic acid, when used in combination, force astrocytes to reverse their destructiveness, and instead reduce amyloid beta in the brain—improving cognitive function. The findings suggest that, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, these drugs can be repurposed to coax astrocytes into a beneficial role, serving as Aβ "clearing machines," eliminating the accumulation of plaques and preventing Alzheimer's from unraveling the brain.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
And you had to bring up covid vaccines...please
Why don’t you try commenting on-topic.
He’s a secret agent and can’t divulge his response. Do you have the proper clearance and a Need to Know?
Sounds promising. I’m a little concerned about Vitamin A toxicity from people taking large doses of Retinoic acid over a long period of time (but I’m not a doctor and may not know what I’m talking about). Taking Vitamin D at the same time may reduce the risk of higher Vitamin A intake.
A and D are both fat-soluble vitamins, which are harder for your body to eliminate when taken in excess compared to water-soluble vitamins like B & C.
Retinoic acid for psoriasis, I need to discuss with my rheum.
Bookmark
Retinoic acid= Isotretinoin = accutane
I didn’t know accutane was prescribed anymore after some Senator’s kid taking it committed suicide in the 90’s, IIRC.
Was great for severe acne.
Clearly, someone forgot to tell us about this before.
It was 20 years ago and I can’t recall if he told me. But I will always remember the agony he was going through due to the medical community’s response and punishment.
Do horses benefit from this medication?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Bookmark
I agree. Look at the drug ads for “tardive diskinesia.” Something people develop after being on psych meds apparently.
bkmk
Soon to be banned.
BFLR
Agree 100%. Read an article the other day about why isn’t the focus on obesity to help stem COVID.
Retinoic acid is not stored.
I stand corrected. Retinoic acid has a half life of just one hour, and its metabolites do not end up trapped in body fat, either.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7764495/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21529158/
p
They’ll ban those cheap drugs asap.
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