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Alzheimer's studies raise hope, promise | |
| By DR. MICHAEL L. FREEDMAN The Associated Press NEW YORK - Long-term studies of older people have raised a glimmer of hope that drug treatment might someday be able to prevent the devastating mental condition of Alzheimer's disease. There is a long way to go before any drug therapy can be used for Alzheimer's prevention. But the study results are intriguing enough to prompt further trials of two drugs that show promise. One of them is estrogen. A study conducted by the National Institute on Aging, which followed 514 women for 16 years, found that postmenopausal women who did not receive estrogen were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as those who did. Another study, conducted at Johns Hopkins University, followed more than 1,800 Baltimore residents, who were given intensive physical and mental examinations every two years. In the study, people who took ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for conditions such as arthritis, for at least two years were 30 percent to 60 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than people who did not take such a drug regularly. The risk reduction was greatest for those who took the drug for longer periods. There are biological reasons that could explain these results. Ibuprofen could reduce brain inflammation caused by the deposit of amyloid, an Alzheimer's-related protein that damages brain cells. Estrogen could help preserve the brain chemicals that are damaged in Alzheimer's disease. Studies to determine whether these drugs can slow the progression of Alzheimer's in patients with mild symptoms are beginning. Beyond that, the thought that drug therapy could slow or prevent development of Alzheimer's disease can lead to investigation of other possible agents. Meanwhile, there's no need to wait for drug treatment to try individual preventive measures. A number of studies have shown that older people who engage in vigorous activity, physical or mental, are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. That's reason enough to get down to the library, into a discussion group or on a bicycle. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |