Drug rescues memory lost to Alzheimer's Disease

[Mr. Authority]

Irvine, Calif., July 14, 2009 A drug similar to one used in clinical trials for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis has been found to rescue memory in mice exhibiting Alzheimer's symptoms.

The discovery by UC Irvine scientists offers hope that a new treatment may be on the horizon for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's, the leading cause of elderly dementia afflicting more than 5 million people in the U.S. and for which no cure exists.

The drug, called PMX205, prevented inflamed immune cells from gathering in brain regions with Alzheimer's lesions called amyloid plaques. Cell inflammation in these areas accelerates neuron damage, exacerbating the disease.

"We used a multidisciplinary approach combining an understanding of immunology and neurobiology to uncover a completely different target than other therapies," said Andrea Tenner, lead author of the study that led to the findings and a molecular biology & biochemistry professor at UCI.

Study results are reported in the July 15 edition of the Journal of Immunology.

For 12 weeks, Tenner and colleagues added PMX205 to the drinking water of mice genetically altered to develop age-related Alzheimer's-like symptoms. The treatment occurred at an age when plaques were accumulating in their brains.

Scientists gave the treated mice learning and memory tests and then examined their brains for evidence of the disease. Alzheimer's mice that were not given the drug performed significantly worse on the test than normal mice. But in all but one case the treated Alzheimer's mice performed almost as well as the normal mice. Those with the rescued cognitive ability had more than 50 percent fewer Alzheimer's lesions and inflammatory immune cells than the untreated diseased mice.

PMX53, a similar drug that can be taken orally, passed Phase 1 human clinical trials for safety with no major problems reported. Possible side effects include an increased susceptibility to some infections. PMX205 is a modified version that may be more potent for treatment of brain disorders.

"This approach may work even better if combined with treatments targeting other problems in the Alzheimer's brain," said Tenner, also a professor of pathology and neurobiology & behavior, as well as a member of UCI's Institute for Immunology and Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, or UCI MIND.

Drug rescues memory lost to Alzheimer... ( Irvine Calif. July 14 2009 A drug ...)

[kingcap72]

This would be great news if it works in human trials. But it's more of that 'evil science' that the fundies hate.

[McJag]

Oh Lord, let this work in humans! So many are suffering.

[oltifreakinbaby]

I just found out today that my father has Pick's disease, which is like Alzheimer's. A part of his brain that controls behaviors and speech and memory functions has died. He's eventually going to become mute and disabled and lose most of his memory (it's already started) and die from this disease. He's had it for about 11 years now, and we JUST found out what it was, but there's no cure. The best we can do is make what time he has left comfortable.

I really hope they find this cure to Alzheimer's because then it might lead to a cure or perhaps treatment for Pick's disease. They're very similar.

[Wiseguy]

^^^That's so sad. I found this website for you, and it also has support group information.

Pick's Disease Information Page

I also hope this clinical trial can be effective in humans as well.

[oltifreakinbaby]

Originally Posted by Wiseguy

^^^That's so sad. I found this website for you, and it also has support group information.

Pick's Disease Information Page

I also hope this clinical trial can be effective in humans as well.

Thank you. I've been looking it up all day today. There's not all that much information on it. Honestly, as bad as this might sound, I kind of hope it takes him before he can get really bad. He's been sick for so long and he's going to get worse. I don't want him to suffer. He found out about the disease today, but we haven't told him the prognosis yet. My mother doesn't want us to, it will only make him worse. He's hopeful now. They've got him on medicines for his mood swings and depression (caused by the disease), and also pain medication for his head aches and some medicine because he's going deaf. I hope the medicine keeps him stable for as long as possible.

[kingcap72]

Originally Posted by oltifreakinbaby

I just found out today that my father has Pick's disease, which is like Alzheimer's. A part of his brain that controls behaviors and speech and memory functions has died. He's eventually going to become mute and disabled and lose most of his memory (it's already started) and die from this disease. He's had it for about 11 years now, and we JUST found out what it was, but there's no cure. The best we can do is make what time he has left comfortable.

I really hope they find this cure to Alzheimer's because then it might lead to a cure or perhaps treatment for Pick's disease. They're very similar.

Sorry about your father. Hopefully, you, your father and your family can find some peace in the time he has left.

[Wiseguy]

I don't want him to suffer. He found out about the disease today, but we haven't told him the prognosis yet. My mother doesn't want us to, it will only make him worse. He's hopeful now. They've got him on medicines for his mood swings and depression (caused by the disease), and also pain medication for his head aches and some medicine because he's going deaf. I hope the medicine keeps him stable for as long as possible.

I think that's a good idea at this stage. He's just received a diagnosis, and I also think telling him that there is no hope for him would be too much.

You sound like you've got a loving and supportive family. Sending hugs and prayers your way.

[oltifreakinbaby]

Thank you to everybody. You guys are actually the only people I've told. I'm not ready to tell my friends. I feel like this should be kept in the family.

[stella blue]

Originally Posted by oltifreakinbaby

Thank you. I've been looking it up all day today. There's not all that much information on it. Honestly, as bad as this might sound, I kind of hope it takes him before he can get really bad. He's been sick for so long and he's going to get worse. I don't want him to suffer. He found out about the disease today, but we haven't told him the prognosis yet. My mother doesn't want us to, it will only make him worse. He's hopeful now. They've got him on medicines for his mood swings and depression (caused by the disease), and also pain medication for his head aches and some medicine because he's going deaf. I hope the medicine keeps him stable for as long as possible.

What a nightmare. I am so sorry your family is going through this.

I watched my grandmother suffer with Alzheimer's and it's absolutely heartbreaking to see the person you love lose touch with everything around them. The disease runs in my dad's family so I worry about it every time he spaces out about something (which he's always done and so have I for that matter, so it's not like it's anything to really worry about at this point). As people live longer, this is one disease that is going to touch so many families and any drug that slows down the progression is going to be a godsend.

[TonjaLasagna]

Originally Posted by oltifreakinbaby

I just found out today that my father has Pick's disease, which is like Alzheimer's. A part of his brain that controls behaviors and speech and memory functions has died. He's eventually going to become mute and disabled and lose most of his memory (it's already started) and die from this disease. He's had it for about 11 years now, and we JUST found out what it was, but there's no cure. The best we can do is make what time he has left comfortable.

I'm very sorry about your father. Hope the Pick's support group helps.

Mine father has alzheimers, I'm looking for an alzheimers support group now.