Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Tue Sep 11, 2012, 06:57 AM Sep 2012

Studies: Alzheimer drug may stabilize brain plaque

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10433037

AP Chief Medical Writer= An experimental drug that failed to stop mental decline in Alzheimer's patients also showed some potential benefit, fuller results of two major studies now show.

Some patients on the drug had stable levels of brain plaque and less evidence of nerve damage compared to others who were given a dummy treatment, researchers reported Tuesday.

The drug is called bapineuzumab (bap-ih-NOOZ-uh-mab), made by Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. The new results suggest it might work if given earlier in the course of the disease, before so much damage and memory loss have occurred that it might not be possible to reverse, experts say.

"We're very disappointed that we were not able to come up with a treatment to provide to our dementia patients in the near term," said Dr. Reisa Sperling, director of the Alzheimer's center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and leader of one of the studies.
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Health»Studies: Alzheimer drug m...