Alzheimer's Researchers See Hope In Experimental Cholesterol Drug
Drug Virtually Erases Brain-Clogging Plaque In Mice With Disease, Researchers Say
POSTED: 2:48 pm EDT October 13,
2004
New research finds an experimental cholesterol drug virtually erased brain-clogging plaque in mice with the disease. These plaques are believed to cause brain cell death and memory loss in Alzheimer's patients.
Researchers said mice that got the drug also performed better than others on memory and learning tests. Now, they hope similar experimental drugs being tested in humans will be studied for a similar benefit in Alzheimer's patients.Treated mice in the study got the drug for two months. The drug -- which only has a laboratory name (cp-113,818) -- is one of a new, experimental class of cholesterol medications called "acat inhibitors."
None of these drugs are on the market, but one called Avasimibe (manufactured by Pfizer), is being tested in humans to examine its cardiovascular benefits.Researchers have long known that high cholesterol is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, an incurable disease that affects at least 4.5 million Americans.This study was conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and was published in the journal Neuron.
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