Search is Powered by Google
Follow us on:
Follow our health news on Twitter
Follow Our News on Facebook
Personalization
login | register
Alzheimer's / Dementia News

Brain Plaques Blocked By Anti-Inflammatory Drug

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 25 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article


Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:5 stars

4.8 (10 votes)

Health Professional:5 stars

4.6 (5 votes)

Article Opinions: 1 posts

Brain destruction in Alzheimer's disease is caused by the build-up of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain, which triggers damaging inflammation and the destruction of nerve cells. Scientists had previously shown that preventing individual amyloid beta proteins from sticking to one another minimized brain lesions and protected nerve cells against damage.

The new study - a collaborative effort by researchers in Germany and the US - shows that an anti-inflammatory drug (called CNI-1493) may have the same effect. The drug - already tested in humans for the treatment of inflammatory diseases - protected nerve cells against amyloid beta-induced damage in culture. In mice prone to developing an Alzheimer's-like disease, the drug decreased brain inflammation and improved memory and cognitive function.

Other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, have been shown to reduce Alzheimer's disease lesions in the brains of rodents, but CNI-1493 appears to be faster and more effective. If these results hold up in humans, CNI-1493 may provide a more effective alternative to current Alzheimer's therapies, which temporarily prolong the function of nerve cells but do not prevent their destruction.

----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------

Source: Hema Bashyam
Journal of Experimental Medicine




Personalized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Hemophilia Opioid Induced Constipation Pneumococcal Disease ADHD Anxiety Asthma Atrial Fibrillation Autism Cancer Diabetes Lung Cancer Lupus Medicare / Medicaid Obesity and BMI Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells All 'What Is...' Articles

Ophthalmology Urology
About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Links Contact Us

add medical news today to your facebook
medical news gadget

Please fill in our survey

Swine Flu Image

Swine Flu Updates

- Latest Swine Flu News
- What is Swine Flu?
- Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
- Swine Flu - Top 20 FAQ
- Daily Email News Alerts
Stick with Medical News Today for the latest news updates on swine flu.


These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months:
Top Article Star
Researchers Find Possible Environmental Causes For Alzheimer's, Diabetes
07 Jul 2009
A new study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital have found a substantial link between increased levels of nitrates in our environment and food, with increased deaths from diseases, including Alzheimer's, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's...


The Role of a Caregiver image The Role of a Caregiver

When a frail or chronically ill loved one can no longer care for him or herself the issue confronting families is what to do about care. Learn what you need to think about first...

Using Creativity to Combat Alzheimer's image Using Creativity to Combat Alzheimer's

Learn how the introduction of a new activity changed the lives of an Alzheimer's patient and her caregiver...

View more videos...