Bexarotene, a widely used cancer drug, has been shown to remove memory-destroying amyloid plaque from the brains of mice. The study, done at the Department of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio and published in the journal "Science" online on February 9th 2012, offers real hope for a cure of Alzheimer's and other dementia in humans, according to an interview with the researchers reported by Agence-France Presse (AFP.com).
"We were shocked and amazed," lead author Gary Landreth told AFP. "Things like this had never, ever been seen before."
Although our bodies efficiently get rid of amyloid plaque while we're young, the likelihood of a plaque buildup increases with age and some people are especially vulnerable. In the course of the Case Western Study, amyloid levels plummeted by 75% in mice with Alzheimer's. As a result, the mice became more social, performed better on tests, had a renewed sense of smell, and remembered how to build nests again. The researchers are now working on human clinical trials. Results could be available as early as next year.
Bexarotene was approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It is now available in 26 countries in Europe, North America, and South America. The drug has an acceptable safety record with possible mild side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, dry skin, and insomnia.
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia affect an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's Disease International predicts that the number of cases will nearly double by 2030.
