Repurposing of Existing Drugs to Prevent Dementia? (BBC News / Science Advances /Alzheimer’s Research UK)

Summary

A number of drugs, already approved as safe for the treatment of other conditions, and which could help protect against Alzheimer’s Disease, are said to have been detected and short-listed for further investigation.

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Reference

Alzheimer’s preventative drug hope. London: BBC Health News, February 13^th 2016.

Possibly of interest, about an approved anticancer drug thought to target selectively the first step in the molecular cascade resulting in Alzheimer’s Disease:

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Reference

Habchi, J. Arosio, P. [and] Perni, M. [et al] (2016). An anticancer drug suppresses the primary nucleation reaction that initiates the production of the toxic Aβ42 aggregates linked with Alzheimer’s disease. Science Advances. February 12^th 2016, 2016; 2 : e1501244.

A pinch of context (critical appraisal):

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Reference

Alzheimer’s disease ‘wonder drug’ claims are premature. London: NHS Choices Behind the Headlines, February 15^th 2016.

A recent USA trial involving humans:

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Reference

Cummings, JL. Zhong, K. [and] Kinney, JW. [et al] (2016). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept trial of bexarotene X in moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy. January 29^th 2016, Vol.8(1), 4. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).