Posted on 02/09/2012 1:00:57 PM PST by Mount Athos
A widely available cancer drug has shown remarkable success in reversing Alzheimer's disease in mice, raising hope of a breakthrough against incurable dementia in humans, US researchers said Thursday.
Mice treated with the drug, known as bexarotene, became rapidly smarter and the plaque in their brains that was causing their Alzheimer's started to disappear within hours, said the research in the journal Science.
"We were shocked and amazed," lead author Gary Landreth of the Department of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio told AFP.
"Things like this had never, ever been seen before," he said.
The drug works by boosting levels of a protein, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), that helps clear amyloid plaque buildup in the brain, a key hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
"Think of this as a garbage disposal," Landreth said.
Six hours after mice got the drug, soluble amyloid levels fell by 25 percent, ultimately reaching 75 percent reductions. The effect lasted up to three days, said the study.
Soon after taking the drug, mice performed better on tests of mental ability and showed improved responses to odors.
Unlike normal mice, Alzheimer's mice will not usually build nests if given tissue paper in their cage, as if they have forgotten to associate paper with the opportunity to nest.
But 72 hours after treatment, the Alzheimer's mice began to build nests again.
"They are not great nests but they are nests nonetheless," added Landreth, suggesting that if the drug can be shown to work in humans it might be best targeted to people in the early stages of the disease.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
My guess is they still can’t fix being stupid.
This is good news but I thought it was determined some time ago that plaque wasn’t the problem.
“In the early stages of the disease”
Which means it will be necessary to kill off the more advanced and grab their money as fast as possible.
“for the children” (and the 0-Congress mafia)
Prayers for success in this area.
Not many families go unharmed by this monster.
bexarotene sounds like one of those drugs where it would be morally wrong to do a double-blind test.
That should help the mice get through the maze now.
This sounds a bit like the plot of the movie “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”...
for later
This is a potentially game changing development. The costs of caring for Alzheimers' patients alone is an enormous expense in the Medicare/ Medicaid budgets. Not to mention the human suffering.
“I am a bit disappointed by some of the sarcasm on this thread...”
Very few people have not been already or will not in the future be touched by this horrible disease. This is not a subject that should attract jokes. I pray this possible lead will materialize into something.
The very premise of this is absurd.
Alzheimer’s is a breakdown in a level of cognition that mice don’t even posess.
Tell the drug pushers to go to hell.
As this is an already approved drug and being actively used to treat other illnesses, this should fast track through the trials process and we won’t have to wait long to see if there are benefits. I’ll be keeping my eye on this!
My mother has Alzheimer’s. I work from home and care for her. This is a hideous disease that takes your loved one away one little piece at a time.
>> “ I pray this possible lead will materialize into something.” <<
.
Oh, it will!
Billions of illicit dollars for the poison industry.
If you want to do something about alzheimers, spend some time searching the web. Two things that have been shown to have a remarkable effect on alzheimers are hourly doses of niacinamide (1 gram), and coconut oil.
Turmeric is also showing far more effect than any drug has so far.
Who is talking to the mice to find out they now know where home is???
whew!
nothing worse than forgetful mice.....
they keep bugging me.....”Who moved my cheese?”
“Two things that have been shown to have a remarkable effect on alzheimers are hourly doses of niacinamide (1 gram), and coconut oil.
Turmeric is also showing far more effect than any drug has so far.”
reputable sources/links for this?
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