Posted on 06/23/2024 7:56:14 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study suggests that certain drugs commonly used to treat enlarged prostate may also decrease the risk for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This observational finding may seem surprising, but it mirrors previous work that links the drugs to a protective effect in another neurodegenerative condition—Parkinson's disease.
The researchers think that a specific side effect of the drugs targets a biological flaw shared by DLB and Parkinson's disease, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases, raising the possibility that they may have broad potential for treating a wide range of neurodegenerative conditions.
The researchers used a large database of patient information to identify more than 643,000 men with no history of DLB who were newly starting one of six drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).
Three of the drugs, terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin (Tz/Dz/Az), have an unexpected side effect; they can boost energy production in brain cells. Preclinical studies suggest that this ability may help slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases like PD and DLB.
The other drugs, tamsulosin and two 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) called finasteride and dutasteride, do not enhance energy production in the brain and therefore provide a good comparison to test the effect of the Tz/Dz/Az drugs.
The team then followed the data on these men from when they started taking the medication until they left the database or developed dementia with Lewy bodies, whichever happened first. On average, the men were followed for about three years.
"We found that men who took Tz/Az/Dz drugs were less likely to develop a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies," Simmering says. "Overall, men taking terazosin-type medications had about a 40% lower risk of developing a DLB diagnosis compared to men taking tamsulosin, and about a 37% reduction in risk compared to men taking five alpha reductase inhibitors."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
If you are at risk for dementia with Lewy bodies, or possibly Parkinson’s, and are taking a prostate medicine, talk with your doctor. It may be worth switching your prescription.
This was an association, not proof, but there was no benefit found for other prostate medicines and dementia with Lewy bodies.
A God-send for men who think with their...
Maybe that's why I'm so smart!
You are funny!
Urologist supplements my Flomax with offscript Monoxidil tabs. Can’t tell a real difference in the flow...but I’ve got hair growing on my elbows.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.