Posted on 07/30/2008 5:09:28 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter
A new drug halts the devastating progress of Alzheimers disease, say British scientists. It is said to be more than twice as effective as current treatments. A daily capsule of rember, as the drug is known, stops Alzheimers disease progressing by as much as 81 per cent, according to trial results. Patients with the brain disorder had no significant decline in their mental function over a 19-month period. We appear to be bringing the worst affected parts of the brain functionally back to life, said Dr Claude Wischik, who led the research. It is the first time medication has been developed to target the tangles in the brain that destroy nerve cells, leading to deteriorating memory. The drug helps to disrupt this process, preventing the formation of new tangles and loosening those already created. Last night the findings were hailed as the biggest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimers since 1907.
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The trial was carried out by a team at the University of Aberdeen, led by Professor Wischik, who 20 years ago discovered the tau protein which makes up the tangles. This is an unprecedented result in the treatment of Alzheimers disease, he said. We have demonstrated for the first time that it may be possible to arrest progression of the disease by targeting the tangles that are highly correlated with the disease.
< snip >
Images of the brain showed rember had its biggest effect in the parts linked to memory, where the density of tau tangles is greatest, with better blood flow to these areas. The drug works by dissolving the tangle of tau fibres which releases waste products that kill nerve cells, and by preventing the fibres from becoming tangled.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
With the large number of baby boomers coming to old age in the next 15 years, I think this med (if it works) will be accessed more quickly. Alzheimer’s in this group could likely bankrupt the country given the long-term nursing care it requires.
The problem is lawsuits, IMHO. The drug companies do not want to take a risk in getting sued if they get their medicine out before it was fully tested through drug trials.
But, the Russian anti-histamine
DIMEBON
and the US arthritis drug,
ENBREL
have shown results against AD in small trials, and these are already tested and approved drugs. Goggle them and you will find out more.
For anybody, I sincerely hope this drug works. It is truly a devastating disease.
btt
Thanks for the ping.
Unlike Clinton and Carter, I expect Reagan would have had the grace to shut up and let his successors do their jobs.
That is because some people are a lot more equal than others.
No if I can just remember to take it.
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