subject: New Alzheimer's Medication: Hope for People Who Forget [print this page] New Alzheimer's Medication: Hope for People Who Forget
Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by a build up of protein called amyloid beta which forms plaques and tangles in the brain. It destroys the brain cells and interferes with neuron signaling. Approved medications for Alzheimer's disease can only relieve symptoms for years and make little effect on the amyloid beta build up and the progression of the disease. The new Alzheimer's medication is on study and being formulated to permanently find a cure for this insidious disease.
In mid-year of 2009, results were released for a potential new Alzheimer's medication. NIC5-15 can help patient with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Albeit this drug is still on clinical trial, it keeps the patient's brain from further deterioration and less side effects compare to old drugs. Another drug is Alzhemed with a generic name Tramiprosate, it is an orally administered amyloid beta antagonist that also a possible cure for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Alzhemed binds to amyloid beta protein and inhibits with its ability to create plaque and destroy brain cells. In addition to the new Alzheimer's medication is Dimebon. It is also an orally administered drug that can stop brain cells from dying by giving protection to amyloid beta. It protects the mitochondria which is the powerhouse of the cell. There was an Alzheimer's vaccine that was being researched before but was abandoned because of its side effects. AN1792 Immuno Therapy, it is a synthetic form of amyloid beta protein that enables the body to create antibodies to amyloid. However, favorable results had been seen to people who underwent clinical trials with improve memory and thinking.
It is unknown when these new Alzheimer's medications would be available in our neighborhood pharmacy. However, the good news is that those drugs clinical trials are still in progress. Developing a new type of medication is a lengthy and expensive process that can reach to more than a decade with an average costs reaching to a billion US dollars. According to the Alzheimer's Association, only 5 out of 10,000 compounds studied make it to clinical trials. And among those drugs, only one makes it through to production.
