Slow the progression of Alzheimer's by inhibiting gamma-secretase
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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is the most common cause of dementia in patients over 65 years of age. Estimates show that 6-8% of people over age 65 are affected by Alzheimer's disease, totaling approximately 5 million people in the United States alone. Every 72 seconds, an American is developing Alzheimer's disease, and it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. The direct and indirect health care costs associated with Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. are estimated to be about $150 billion. The total cost globally in 2005 was estimated at $315.4 billion.
As life-expectancy grows, without the availability of medicines that delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the number of affected people is expected to at least triple by the year 2050 in developed nations. The average duration between onset of symptoms and death due to complications of Alzheimer's disease is about 8-10 years. The burden to caregivers and health care costs can increase dramatically in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, when patients cannot maintain independent function and are frequently bedridden.
Eli Lilly and Co has started a Phase III Clinical Trial of LY450139, an investigational gamma secretase inhibitor for the treatment of patients with mild/moderate Alzheimer's disease. The trial aims to see whether it can slow the progression associated with Alzheimer's by inhibiting gamma-secretase. Gamma-secretase is an enzyme that can create amyloid beta - a sticky protein.
The current theory goes that subtypes of amyloid beta stick together and form plaques - these plaques play a key role in killing off brain cells. If the gamma secretase can be blocked less amyloid beta is formed, and subsequently plaques are formed and fewer brains cells are killed off. Patients whose Alzheimer's progression is slowed down may be able to preserve independent functioning and quality of life in the milder disease stages. Also, it is hoped that LY450139 may delay the onset of the severe stages of Alzheimer's.
To date, there are no Alzheimer's disease treatments which have a documented effect on amyloid beta. At best, current treatment may provide modest improvements in symptoms, but have no impact on slowing down the underlying disease process. To more completely characterize the disease-modifying effects of LY450139, a number of optional biomarker sub-studies will be available to patients. These optional sub-studies will utilize new brain-scanning techniques to determine the amount of amyloid beta plaque in the brain, employ other, more established scanning techniques to examine brain structure and function, and evaluate a number of additional biochemical measures of Alzheimer's disease. By determining the effect of LY450139 on these objective biomarkers, a more complete understanding of the effect of LY450139 on underlying Alzheimer's disease pathology is possible. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
Green tea shows superbug-battling potential
Green tea can boost the potential of antibiotics to battle superbugs and other bacterial strains and even make previously antibiotic-resistant bacteria susceptible to treatment, according to "surprised" Egyptian scientists. http://www.nutraingredients.com
As life-expectancy grows, without the availability of medicines that delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the number of affected people is expected to at least triple by the year 2050 in developed nations. The average duration between onset of symptoms and death due to complications of Alzheimer's disease is about 8-10 years. The burden to caregivers and health care costs can increase dramatically in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, when patients cannot maintain independent function and are frequently bedridden.
Eli Lilly and Co has started a Phase III Clinical Trial of LY450139, an investigational gamma secretase inhibitor for the treatment of patients with mild/moderate Alzheimer's disease. The trial aims to see whether it can slow the progression associated with Alzheimer's by inhibiting gamma-secretase. Gamma-secretase is an enzyme that can create amyloid beta - a sticky protein.
The current theory goes that subtypes of amyloid beta stick together and form plaques - these plaques play a key role in killing off brain cells. If the gamma secretase can be blocked less amyloid beta is formed, and subsequently plaques are formed and fewer brains cells are killed off. Patients whose Alzheimer's progression is slowed down may be able to preserve independent functioning and quality of life in the milder disease stages. Also, it is hoped that LY450139 may delay the onset of the severe stages of Alzheimer's.
To date, there are no Alzheimer's disease treatments which have a documented effect on amyloid beta. At best, current treatment may provide modest improvements in symptoms, but have no impact on slowing down the underlying disease process. To more completely characterize the disease-modifying effects of LY450139, a number of optional biomarker sub-studies will be available to patients. These optional sub-studies will utilize new brain-scanning techniques to determine the amount of amyloid beta plaque in the brain, employ other, more established scanning techniques to examine brain structure and function, and evaluate a number of additional biochemical measures of Alzheimer's disease. By determining the effect of LY450139 on these objective biomarkers, a more complete understanding of the effect of LY450139 on underlying Alzheimer's disease pathology is possible. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
Green tea can boost the potential of antibiotics to battle superbugs and other bacterial strains and even make previously antibiotic-resistant bacteria susceptible to treatment, according to "surprised" Egyptian scientists. http://www.nutraingredients.com
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posted by Valery Yermalitsky at
6:40 AM
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