Alzheimer's cure likely after successful drug trial

With Alzheimer's patients to triple worldwide to 115 million by 2050, a new drug to fight the disease provides first signs of hope.

MEDICINE & SCIENCE

Alzheimer's cure likely after successful drug trial

03/11/2016
AFP News Agency

A new experimental treatment against Alzheimer's disease has proved to be promising and free of harmful side effects, researchers in the United States reported Wednesday.

The research published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on the basis of a small 32-person sample gave rise to two broader clinical trials that are now underway with more than 3,000 subjects (read article here).

DRUG REDUCES ENZYME BEHIND PLAQUE-FORMING PROTEINS

The treatment uses a chemical compound called verubecestat, developed by US pharmaceutical firm (read about chemical compound here & here).

The treatment reduces levels of proteins called beta amyloids by blocking an enzyme known as BACE1.

In people with Alzheimer's disease, the proteins clump into plaques that damage the brain, affecting cognitive abilities, especially memory.

The enzyme plays a key role in production of the proteins.

TOXIC SIDE-EFFECTS UNTIL NOW

The 32 people who participated in the first clinical trial had been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.

Pharmaceutical labs are working to develop chemical compounds that can stop or even reverse the formation of these plaques.

Until now, products developed to neutralise the BACEI enzyme had very toxic side effects, such as liver damage or further neuro - degeneration.

But verubecestat does not, said Dr Matthew Kennedy of the Merck research lab in northeastern state of New Jersey.

Researchers found that one or two doses of the chemical compound were enough to lower protein levels without causing side effects.

DRUG MAY BE ON THE MARKET IN 2 to 3 YEARS

The two so-called phase 3 clinical trials now underway to evaluate how well verubecestat works will conclude in July 2017.

If the results are good, the chemical compound could be on the market being sold as a pill in two or three years.

ALZHEIMER PATIENTS EXPECTED TO SURPASS 115 MILLION BY 2050

The number of people in the United States suffering from mind wasting Alzheimer's could surpass 28 million by 2050 after the entire baby boomer generation gets past age 80, according to projections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says 36 million people around the world suffer from some form of dementia, most of them with Alzheimer.

The figure is expected to double by 2030 to exceed 65.7 million, and triple by 2050 to 115.4 million, if no effective treatment is found in the next few years.

For an extensive tutorial on Alzheimer's disease see Khan Academy here.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/family-and-health/1126172/us-researchers-report-promising-alzheimers-drug

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/02/alzheimers-treatment-within-reach-after-successful-drug-trial-amyloid-plaques-bace1

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/nclex-rn/rn-mental-health

http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/8/363/363ra150.full

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-alzheimer-s-drug-clears-milestone-in-human-clinical-trial1/

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