Alzheimer's brain plaques 'rapidly cleared' in mice (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By James Gallagher
Health and science reporter, BBC News

Destructive plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients have been rapidly cleared by researchers testing a cancer drug on mice.

The US study, published in the journal Science, reported the plaques were broken down at "unprecedented" speed.

Tests also showed an improvement in some brain function.

Specialists said the results were promising, but warned that successful drugs in mice often failed to work in people.
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After one dose in young mice, the levels of beta-amyloid in the brain were "rapidly lowered" within six hours and a 25% reduction was sustained for 70 hours.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16945466

free abstract: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2012/02/08/science.1217697.abstract?sid=eb351ae8-1f45-4072-a507-231baec26ea2




Sounds like grounds for cautious optimism ...

[Tumbulu]

1. Oh my goodness- I want this drug!

I hope that it ends up working for humans- thanks for posting- it sure gives one hope.

[silverweb]

2. Wow!!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Time to set up a Google alert on bexarotene and keep close track of developments on this!

[kickysnana]

3. We went through this already. The plaques are not the disease and clearing makes things worse. n/t

[Duer 157099]

5. "After taking bexarotene for several days, animals showed a startling improvement..."

"After taking bexarotene for several days, animals showed a startling improvement in several different kinds of tests."

I agree that the plaques themselves are not the disease, but if they have behavioral data on these mice that shows improvement... well, that's something.

Also:

"In addition to its promise in treating Alzheimer’s disease, bexarotene might offer scientists a way to clarify A-beta’s role in the disease. The relationship has gone untested because scientists haven’t had a good way to reduce A-beta. “This is a perfect tool for testing the amyloid hypothesis,” Gandy says."

[Warpy]

4. I hope it works in humans

Every nurse out there who has cared for Alzheimer's patients (meaning all of us unless we work in pediatrics) has a suicide plan in place because of it.

Having a drug that crosses the blood/brain barrier is amazing in itself. One that destroys beta amyloid plaque is astonishing.