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A Treatment for Alzheimers?
Topic Started: Feb 10 2012, 02:28 PM (348 Views)
George K
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Finally
http://www.france24.com/en/20120209-cancer-drug-reverses-alzheimers-mice-study

Quote:
 
Cancer drug reverses Alzheimer's in mice: study - FRANCE 24

AFP - 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.

"When we are young and healthy, all of us can basically get rid of this (amyloid) and degrade it and grind it into small bits and it gets cleared.

"Many of us will be unable to do this as efficiently as we age. And this is associated with mental decline or cognitive impairment."

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.

Clinical trials in people should begin soon and produce early results in the next year, researchers said.

Bexarotene was initially made by US-based Ligand Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Targretin.

It gained orphan drug status in the United States -- approval by the US Food and Drug Administration -- in 1999 as a treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare cancer.


Now, let's get an Alzheimer's drug that works on cancer.

As Glenn Reynolds says, "Faster, please!"
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
At 56, albeit with no history in the family, I encourage them to hurry the heck up. I cannot imagine anyone in that position who would not volunteer, and since it is currently an irreversible death sentence, undue caution seems a waste.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Copper
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Shortstop
George K
Feb 10 2012, 02:28 PM

Mice treated with the drug, known as bexarotene, became rapidly smarter

Let's add some to the water supply before the next election.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Luke's Dad
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Emperor Pengin
First Cancer and now Alzheimers? Will it cure halitosis, too?
The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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Dave Spelvin
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Fulla-Carp
Copper
Feb 10 2012, 02:37 PM
George K
Feb 10 2012, 02:28 PM

Mice treated with the drug, known as bexarotene, became rapidly smarter

Let's add some to the water supply before the next election.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
We'll worry about that after the election, Dave. :lol2:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Dave Spelvin
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Fulla-Carp
Mikhailoh
Feb 10 2012, 03:09 PM
We'll worry about that after the election, Dave. :lol2:
:lol2:
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Maybe it will work on conservatives too.

Finally, a ray of hope. :silly:
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brenda
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..............
" ... 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."

Excellent news for my generation. :)
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
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The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Irony. They have it. :lol2:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Mikhailoh
Feb 11 2012, 03:58 PM
Irony. They have it. :lol2:
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The dogma lives loudly within me.
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George K
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Finally
iRONic.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
ivorythumper
Feb 11 2012, 04:11 PM
Mikhailoh
Feb 11 2012, 03:58 PM
Irony. They have it. :lol2:
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oh my, that's hilarious.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
iRony. Sounds like something new from Apple.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Posted Image
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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