Grounds for Cautious Optimism Regarding Two Drugs Re-Purposed for Neurodegenerative Diseases? (BBC News / MRC / NHS Choices / Brain)

Summary

Animal research, involving mice, has indicated promising results for the potential of two re-purposed drugs in helping to slow or halt the progression of a number of neurodegenerative brain diseases, including dementia.

“The best known drug of the pair is Trazodone, which is already taken by patients with depression”.

Clinical trials are planned.

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Reference

Gallagher, J. (2017). Experts excited by brain ‘wonder-drug’. London: BBC Health News, April 20^th 2017.

This relates to:

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MRC scientists discover two repurposed drugs that arrest neurodegeneration in mice. London: Medical Research Council (MRC), April 20^th 2017.

Coincidentally:

“Professor Giovanna Mallucci, who led the team from the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Toxicology Unit in Leicester and the University of Cambridge, was today announced as one of the five associate directors of the UK Dementia Research Institute”.

Further appraisal:

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Reference

Two older drugs could be ‘repurposed’ to fight dementia. London: NHS Choices; Behind the Headlines, April 20^th 2017.

This relates to:

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Reference

Halliday, M. Radford, H. [and] Zents, KAM. [et al] (2017). Repurposed drugs targeting eIF2α-P-mediated translational repression prevent neurodegeneration in mice. Brain. April 19^th 2017. [Epub ahead of print].