Alzheimer's-reversing drugs, approved by the FDA, identified: Improved memory among positive effects

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's disease using two FDA-approved drugs: letrozole and irinotecan. These drugs, currently used for cancer treatment, have shown promising results in reversing Alzheimer's-related gene expression, dissolving toxic protein clumps, and preventing brain degeneration.

The findings, published in the prestigious journal Cell, were made by a team of researchers from Penn State and Stanford University. They used computational tools to tackle the complexity of Alzheimer's and discovered this potential combination therapy based on existing FDA-approved medications.

Marina Sirota, the interim director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, expressed excitement about the potential of their computational approach leading to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's based on existing FDA-approved medications.

The discovery is significant because Alzheimer's disease is known to be challenging to study and treat due to its complex changes in the brain. Researchers have long understood that Alzheimer's is likely the result of numerous alterations in many genes and proteins.

In a "mock clinical trial," researchers found that patients who had taken letrozole or irinotecan for cancer were less likely to develop Alzheimer's. This observation led the researchers to further investigate the drugs' potential in treating Alzheimer's.

When given together, letrozole and irinotecan reversed disease-related gene expression signatures, dissolved toxic tau protein clumps, and prevented brain degeneration in an aggressive Alzheimer's mouse model. The treatment also restored memory and learning in mice that had already developed severe Alzheimer's symptoms.

It is important to note that the use of cancer drugs for Alzheimer's treatment may be complex and risky due to their original purpose. More research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these drugs in treating Alzheimer's in humans.

Meanwhile, a separate study from Stanford Medicine found that seniors who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over seven years. While this study does not involve the use of drugs, it underscores the importance of continuing research into preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease.

Carnosic acid, a compound found in rosemary and sage, has also been shown to reverse memory loss and reduce brain inflammation in mice with Alzheimer's. However, more research is needed to determine the potential of this compound in treating Alzheimer's in humans.

In conclusion, the discovery of letrozole and irinotecan as potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease is a significant step forward in the fight against this debilitating disease. More research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these drugs in treating Alzheimer's in humans, but the potential for these FDA-approved drugs to slow down, reverse, and potentially cure Alzheimer's disease is exciting.

Alzheimer's-reversing drugs, approved by the FDA, identified: Improved memory among positive effects