Alzheimer's Disease Slowed by Anti-Hypertension Drugs.
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A broad screening of existing drugs has found "promising evidence" that cardiovascular anti-hypertensive agents may decrease the incidence or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and one, in particular, Propranololo-HCL (Inderal), is targeted for further study.
Among several hundred drugs that were identified in Dr. Pasinetti’s laboratory as having promise in preventing beta-amyloid build-up, seven of the drugs are commonly prescribed to treat hypertension. These findings suggest that a large number of geriatric patients currently under pharmacological treatment for high-blood pressure with certain anti-hypertensive drugs may also reap the benefits of the drug’s cognitive effects.
Over the past two years, researchers have begun screening drugs that are already commercially available for treatment of other disorders to determine their potential value in treating Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.
Commonly prescribed drugs were administered in vitro (in artificial environment, such as a test tube) to brain cells derived from animal models genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease amyloid neuropathology. The drug, Propranololo-HCL (Inderal), is widely prescribed in elderly patients to treat high blood pressure. Further research is necessary to determine if these patients may also be benefiting from the potential cognitive effects of the drug.
The brain cells in vitro were then monitored to systematically assess the potential beneficial effect of novel drugs, especially in respect to generation of abnormally processed beta-amyloid.
This recent, promising evidence indicates that cardiovascular anti-hypertensive agents may decrease the incidence or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. During the course of the research, one drug in particular was identified as effective in blocking the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain and preventing the deterioration of cognitive performance.
Alzheimer's Donation
Donate Online Now
.
A broad screening of existing drugs has found "promising evidence" that cardiovascular anti-hypertensive agents may decrease the incidence or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and one, in particular, Propranololo-HCL (Inderal), is targeted for further study.
Among several hundred drugs that were identified in Dr. Pasinetti’s laboratory as having promise in preventing beta-amyloid build-up, seven of the drugs are commonly prescribed to treat hypertension. These findings suggest that a large number of geriatric patients currently under pharmacological treatment for high-blood pressure with certain anti-hypertensive drugs may also reap the benefits of the drug’s cognitive effects.
Over the past two years, researchers have begun screening drugs that are already commercially available for treatment of other disorders to determine their potential value in treating Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.
Commonly prescribed drugs were administered in vitro (in artificial environment, such as a test tube) to brain cells derived from animal models genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease amyloid neuropathology. The drug, Propranololo-HCL (Inderal), is widely prescribed in elderly patients to treat high blood pressure. Further research is necessary to determine if these patients may also be benefiting from the potential cognitive effects of the drug.
The brain cells in vitro were then monitored to systematically assess the potential beneficial effect of novel drugs, especially in respect to generation of abnormally processed beta-amyloid.
This recent, promising evidence indicates that cardiovascular anti-hypertensive agents may decrease the incidence or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. During the course of the research, one drug in particular was identified as effective in blocking the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain and preventing the deterioration of cognitive performance.
posted by Valery Yermalitsky at
6:20 AM
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