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Pill promises to stop Alzheimer's
Sunday Herald Sun ^ | 23 July 2006

Posted on 07/23/2006 4:20:02 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher

MELBOURNE scientists believe they may have found a cure for Alzheimer's disease if tests on mice prove successful in humans.

In a world first, a Melbourne research team has developed a once-a-day pill that could stop the debilitating disease in its tracks.

Human trials of the drug PBT2 will begin next month.

Professor George Fink, director of the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, which developed the drug in partnership with Prana Biotechnology, said it was a major breakthrough.

"I'm getting great excitement out of it, it's certainly another Eureka," he said on Channel 10.

"If we can replicate in a human what occurs at the lab bench then this will be of great, immense importance."

Prof Fink said the drug could prevent or delay Alzheimer's from developing.

PBT2 works by attacking a build up of the protein amyloid, which is thought to cause the brain to rust.

Clinical tests on animals have found the drug acts fast, with amyloid levels dropping by 60 per cent within 24 hours of a dose.

About 700 Australians are diagnosed with Alzheimer's each week, with that figure expected to triple within 40 years.

"It is a major breakthrough and very much a Melbourne discovery," Prof Fink told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"Though much depends on the next phase of human clinical trials ... early results indicate this drug offers hope to people with Alzheimer's disease."

Alzheimer's Australia (Victoria) executive director Lynette Moore welcomed the development.

"The earlier we can get at this disease the more likely it is that we're going to halt it in its tracks or reverse it and the people aren't going to suffer the consequences," Ms Moore said on Channel 10.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alzheimers; australia; cure; health; medicine; melbourne; pill
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Let's hope so...
1 posted on 07/23/2006 4:20:03 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
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To: Aussie Dasher

They need to put those things in a big gum ball dispenser on the senate floor.


2 posted on 07/23/2006 4:21:17 AM PDT by strange1 ("Show the enemy harm so he shall not advance" Sun Tzu The Art of War)
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To: strange1

Aim it at Specter and Lard Ass for starters!!!


3 posted on 07/23/2006 4:23:35 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Phhooop on the Senate. I'd like to see this on the market while my father still knows who I am.


4 posted on 07/23/2006 4:26:14 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Aussie Dasher

This would be just amazing. Let's hope it proves itself in human trials.


5 posted on 07/23/2006 4:27:58 AM PDT by Bahbah (Democrat Motto: Why not the worst)
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To: Tax-chick

Do whatever you can to get him in the trial, and good luck to you.


6 posted on 07/23/2006 4:30:47 AM PDT by Thalos
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To: Aussie Dasher

Thanks for posting this information. I hope you can follow the development and tests and let us know what they say once the human testing is done.


7 posted on 07/23/2006 4:41:27 AM PDT by Iowa Granny (Dances with Hoses)
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To: Iowa Granny

I certainly shall.

In the meantime, let's all pray for its success.


8 posted on 07/23/2006 4:43:40 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Way to go! This could prevent untold suffering!


9 posted on 07/23/2006 4:44:21 AM PDT by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Anyone who has had a close relative die from this disease is in the unenviable position of understanding what it is like to see someone die several times over several years.

It gets to the point where going to see the loved one takes tremendous courage as no doubt you will wind up in the front seat of your parked car after the visit sobbing.


10 posted on 07/23/2006 4:46:55 AM PDT by Eddie01 (please let me know if I missed anything)
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To: Eddie01

I went through it with my grandmother. It was dreadful.


11 posted on 07/23/2006 4:48:27 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: Thalos

I'll send the information to my mother, and pray!


12 posted on 07/23/2006 5:00:09 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Same deal here, only in our case my maternal grandmother was mercifully carried off by a stroke before things got really bad.


13 posted on 07/23/2006 5:15:50 AM PDT by sinanju
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To: Tax-chick
I'd like to see this on the market while my father still knows who I am.

Been there -- and past -- my own father's point of non-recognition. You have my sincerest, deepest sympathies...

14 posted on 07/23/2006 5:24:20 AM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah" = Satan in disguise)
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To: Aussie Dasher

My grandfather 'lived' with alzhiemers for 20 years. He was reduced to a juvenile delinquent with no memory at all. Very sad.

He had been a genius mechanic, machinist, and farmer. The only thing holding him back from wealth and industrial empire was a total lack of business sense. He failed at any number of ventures, but I admire his memory because even though he always failed, he was never beaten until his own mind betrayed him.

He was at least able to provide his wife a good living from various pensions and royalties, which included a WW1 veterans pension.


15 posted on 07/23/2006 5:31:55 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: Aussie Dasher

My deapest sympathies.

I went through it with my Mom. She passed away in '02, I was in my 30s at the time.

So hopeful this treatment is successful. The long drawn out emotional pain suffered by the victim, family and friends is "dreadful" to say the least.


16 posted on 07/23/2006 5:35:52 AM PDT by Eddie01 (please let me know if I missed anything)
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To: Aussie Dasher

What a miracle!


17 posted on 07/23/2006 5:36:41 AM PDT by hershey
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To: Aussie Dasher
Medical research is a painstakingly slow business. Massive leaps forward as indicated in the article would seem to be somewhat contrary to what seems typical of advances in medical research.

Understand, I am indeed hopeful that such an advance exists. None-the-less, I will temper that hopefulness with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Googling and doing some reading of some of the causes George Fink of Melbourne seems to have attached himself to however, does give me some pause. Perhaps that's a difference George Fink of Melbourne (than the Professor mentioned above) featured in some the articles.

None-the-less, I remain hopeful that such a treatment, if not this one, is quite close at hand.
18 posted on 07/23/2006 5:41:07 AM PDT by pyx (Rule #1. The LEFT lies. Rule #2. See Rule #1.)
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To: TXnMA

No, you have my sympathies! I'm just anticipating the worst, but you've been through it!


19 posted on 07/23/2006 5:45:13 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Tax-chick
I'd like to see this on the market while my father still knows who I am.

We built on to our house and kept my mother in law for a couple of years. Just last week we moved her to a memory care facility. She's just about 1 year old. And does everything that 1 year old does.... ugh. It just became to much. I hope this works for my wife's sake. I want to get her started on the medicine to prevent it.

20 posted on 07/23/2006 5:48:23 AM PDT by kjam22
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