A drug that slows the development of Alzheimer's disease by 30%
Last reviewed: 28.11.2021
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In one of the pharmaceutical companies the US developed a drug that significantly slows down the development of Alzheimer's disease. The results of their work pharmacists published in one of the popular scientific publications. As the clinical trials of the new drug showed, after intake in the brain of patients, the level of beta-amyloid protein accumulating in Alzheimer's disease decreases.
The experts presented their reports at an international conference, the main theme of which was the fight against Alzheimer's disease.
This study was the next stage of the drug test (in previous tests, the drug showed good efficacy - in the first 1.5 years of admission in patients with Alzheimer's disease, the deterioration in cognitive functions slowed by 30% compared to patients who did not take any medication).
The new study also involved patients with an early form of Alzheimer's. All participants were divided into two groups, the first received a new medicine, in the second - a placebo. A distinctive feature of the new clinical study was that in the placebo group, after a while, the "dummy" was replaced with a drug to determine whether the medication facilitates the condition of patients with Alzheimer's, or directly affects the cause of the disease.
According to the results obtained, at the time of taking the new drug by patients from the placebo group, by the end of the tests, the rate of deterioration of cognitive functions was equal to that of patients in the group where the new drug was taken from the first days. Based on such data, scientists suggested that the new drug affects the causes of the disease.
It is worth noting that the earlier studies of drugs that destroyed the beta-amyloid protein, ended in failure.
But a number of specialists expressed skepticism about the results of tests and the effectiveness of the drug, noting that physical stress and special nutrition also helps to slow the progression of the disease.
Scientists who supported scientists noted that Alzheimer's disease should be treated early, perhaps this was the main reason for the failure of previous studies. These arguments coincide with the conclusions of scientists who conducted clinical trials. As suggested by pharmacists, the new drug is effective only at an early stage of the disease.
Specialists have long been interested in the causes of senile dementia. The group of experts decided to conduct a large-scale study of such processes in a group of volunteers. Observation of the participants of the experiment was started in 1946 - the scientists decided to evaluate the work of the brain, starting from the first days of human life, therefore, 500 newborns were born, who were born in March.
Regularly, specialists conducted tests for memory, assessed the condition of bones, cardiovascular system, brain activity.
Now, according to scientists in senile dementia, the basic role is played by the natural process of aging of the body, but this research allows us to hope that perhaps the cause is not at all this and the ailment can be cured.
Also, experts noted that all participants will have a contrast 3D magnetic resonance imaging to detect even minor changes that cause Alzheimer's. Also, participants will regularly take blood and urine for analysis to identify signs of early development of senile dementia.