Alzheimer’s Drug May Be First to Prevent the Disease’s Progression

There is potentially good news in the research for combating the incurable disease that affects as many as 5.4 million Americans. A new drug candidate may be the first capable of halting the devastating mental decline of Alzheimer’s disease, based on the findings of a study by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif.

When given to mice with Alzheimer’s, the drug – known as J147 – improved memory and prevented brain damage caused by the incurable disease. The new compound could be tested for treatment of the disease in humans in the near future, according to researchers.

“J147 enhances memory in both normal and Alzheimer’s mice and also protects the brain from the loss of synaptic connections,” said David Schubert, the head of Salk’s Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, whose team developed the new drug. “No drugs on the market for Alzheimer’s have both of these properties.”

Although it is unknown whether the compound will prove to be safe and effective in humans, the Salk researchers said their results suggest the drug may hold potential for treatment of people with Alzheimer’s. Because of the broad ability of J147 to protect nerve cells, the researchers believe that it also may be effective for treating other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease,

Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), as well as stroke.

The potential for a groundbreaking Alzheimer’s medication is providing a glint of sunlight in the otherwise gloomy outlook for those who have the incurable dementia.

For more information about the study, visit http://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelease_details.php?press_id=532.