Cure for Alzheimer's
Disease Found In Once A Day Pill According to Australian Researchers -
Drug Lowers Amyloid in Body in 24 Hours
July 22nd 2006
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A Cure? |
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Australian scientists say they have found a cure for Alzheimer’s disease
and it is as simple as a once-a-day pill. Trials of the drug, PBT2,
start next month according to The Australian news agency. The pill was
developed by the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria in
partnership with Prana Biotechnology in Melbourne.
Professor George Fink said “It is a major breakthrough and very much a
Melbourne discovery.'' Fink is the director of the Mental Health
Research Institute. He added “Though much depends on the next phase of
human clinical trials ... early results indicate this drug offers hope
to people with Alzheimer's disease.''
The Australian report says the drug works fast by lowering the amyloid
levels by 60 percent in 24 hours. Amyloid is a protein that many
scientists believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s. Amyloid causes the
brain to “rust”, according to the researchers. They say PBT2 suppressed
the “impairment of memory function.”
It is pretty rare you hear anyone claim to have a cure for a disease,
let alone one that is so prevalent and devastating. Professor Fink says
the drug could significantly prevent Alzheimer's from developing or
delay the on-set of the brain disease for many years.
More human studies begin in Sweden next month and Australians will be
able to join a major international trial of the drug next year. Fink
says the drug could be on the market within four years.
Marsh Quinn
Writer
Books on the Mind
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