Alzheimers Disease Medication

"Alzheimer's Drug Research
  Blocks Disease Progression..."

...Alzheimers disease medication - A "Stop Sign" may have been thrown into the path of Alzheimer's disease by a recent Alzheimer's research discovery.  

The scientists who conducted the study believe they may have found a compound that does not prevent Alzheimer's, but it appears it may block the progression of Alzheimer's and dementia. 

That could mean that once a patient was diagnosed with Alzheimer's early signs, the disease could be held in check and not allow any further degeneration of the brain process.

The Alzheimer's disease drug has been named AF267B.  It was administered to mice during the tests and it had the effect of reversing the symptoms of memory loss and problems with learning that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. 

Ongoing study revealed that it also reduced levels of protein clumps and tangles often found in Alzheimer's patients.

The team conducting the Alzheimer's research is based at University of California, Irvine, and is led by Frank LaFerla, professor of neurobiology and behavior. 

The researchers found that the compound reduced plaque lesions in the brain that are associated with learning and memory.

Alzheimers Disease Medication 

Mr. LaFerla was quoted as saying,"AF267B could be a tremendous step forward in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, although the exact effect that the compound will have is yet undetermined we are very excited by the results the study has produced."

The U.C. Alzheimer's research team used Positron Emission Tomography scanning and a chemical called MPPF to determine what was developing inside people's brains.  They measured the amount of "serotonin receptors 1A" in nerve cells in an area of the brain affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

AF267B seems to be effective by mimicking the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain that is vital to memory and learning.

Early testing indicates that the AF267B drug should be well tolerated and
pharmaceutical companies are now conducting clinical studies to be sure the compound will be safe for human use.

It should be understood that AF267B will not be a complete solution to Alzheimer's.  The research has shown the compound had no effect on the amygdale area of the brain. 

 It is surmised that this might be because the drug acted on an aspect of the disease process that is particularly active in that part of the brain.

Continuing research will be needed to improve the drug's effectiveness and to replicate the results in humans. The researchers administered the drug at an early stage in the disease and for only a short period of time, so it is not yet clear whether the improvement in the disease will be prolonged.

As with the development of most new drugs it will be years before it is proven effective for treatment disease in humans.  Still, AF267B this is a very promising development. ''

Identifying Alzheimer's early signs before obvious symptoms become apparent is another very important goal of medical research. In the future doctors need to be able to identify the disease as early as possible, so that treatment can quickly halt the progress.  This new drug appears to be a major advancement in Alzheimer's disease medication.

Alzheimers disease medication