Alzheimer's disease and Anticancer drug

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio have published their findings in the journal Science.

Researchers have found that the destructive protein plaques caused by beta-amyloid in the brain of mice model have successfully been removed after using the drug, bexarotene, which is used for the treatment of skin cancer.

From SayPeople,

Researchers thought to increase the amount of ApoE. They used bexarotene, which is used for the treatment of skin cancer, on mice with similar conditions as that of Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the levels of beta-amyloid in the brain were “rapidly lowered” within six hours after using one dose and a 25% reduction was sustained for 70 hours. They further found that in older mice the number of plaques reduced by 50% after seven days of treatment. 

Researchers have found that after treatment the brain functioning improved such as nest building, remembering electrical shocks and maze performance.

However, according to researchers, this study needs further investigation.

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