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Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
Thu Nov 3, 2016, 01:25 AM Nov 2016

Alzheimer's treatment within reach after successful drug trial

Alzheimer's treatment within reach after successful drug trial
An Alzheimer’s drug has been shown to successfully target the most visible sign of the disease in the brain, raising hopes that an effective treatment could be finally within reach.

A small trial of the drug was primarily aimed at assessing safety, but the findings suggest it effectively “switched off” the production of toxic amyloid proteins that lead to the sticky plaques seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

If the tablet, produced by pharmaceutical giant Merck, is also shown to slow the pace of mental decline – a crucial question that a major clinical trial should answer when it reports next year – it could be the first treatment for Alzheimer’s to be licensed in more than a decade.

Prof John Hardy, a neuroscientist at UCL who first proposed that amyloid proteins play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease, welcomed the results. “People are excited,” he said. “This is a very nice drug and I’m sure Merck are feeling very pleased with themselves.”

My mother died of Alzheimers. Everytime I forget anything, I find myself terrified that it's starting.
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Alzheimer's treatment within reach after successful drug trial (Original Post) Agnosticsherbet Nov 2016 OP
This bears watching, indeed. dixiegrrrrl Nov 2016 #1
Also, until then: dixiegrrrrl Nov 2016 #2
First good news for Trump since the nomination. Coyotl Nov 2016 #3
That's good! haha nt OhZone Nov 2016 #9
good news Liberal_in_LA Nov 2016 #4
Of all the forms of death awoke_in_2003 Nov 2016 #5
Sir Terry Pratchett, my favorite author, died of Alzheimer's. He donated $1 million for research... Hekate Nov 2016 #6
My mom had this when she died. area51 Nov 2016 #7
k&r bigtree Nov 2016 #10
... brer cat Nov 2016 #11

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
2. Also, until then:
Thu Nov 3, 2016, 01:32 AM
Nov 2016
THC’s Ability to Remove Alzheimer’s Plaque From Brain Cells May Lead to New Treatment Options

A study released by the Salk Institute this summer is confirming what more and more patients and caregivers have learned on their own — that marijuana and cannabis oil can be an effective medicine for battling the terrible effects of Alzheimer’s Disease.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers took human neurons that were grown in a lab and altered them in a way that caused them to create a plaque buildup. The neurons were then subjected to THC and other compounds from the marijuana plant.

“Although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells,” says Salk Professor David Schubert, the senior author of the paper said in a statement.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12794099

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
6. Sir Terry Pratchett, my favorite author, died of Alzheimer's. He donated $1 million for research...
Thu Nov 3, 2016, 02:18 AM
Nov 2016

He was a wonderful man, and became an active spokesperson.

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