Case Western Reserve researchers make major breakthrough in fight against Alzheimer's disease
Posted: 02/10/2012
CLEVELAND - Neuroscientists at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have made a major breakthrough in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
In findings to be published in the journal Science, researchers discovered that a drug typically used to treat cancer appears to reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s in mice.
That drug is Bexarotene and researchers were impressed with the speed at which it improved memory and cognitive deficits.
Researchers said that previously, the best existing treatment for Alzheimer's in mice took several months to reduce plaque in the brain but with this one it took just days.
Bexarotene has been an FDA approved drug for more than a decade.
The Case Western Reserve researchers said they are hopeful that the positive results in the research with mice will translate to humans and will look to move forward with human trials.
About 5.4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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