Written by: euronews
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A recent study led by the University of Exeter and funded by the Alzheimer’s Society has revealed three approved drugs that may have a role in treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
The study results were recently published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, and showed that herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax), a vaccine against a viral infection that causes a painful skin rash, comes out on top among the candidates, along with Viagra (sildenafil) and riluzole, which is currently used to treat motor neuron diseases.
The process of developing new drugs against dementia is long and expensive, as it may take 10 to 15 years at high costs, with no guarantee of success. In contrast, reusing approved drugs for other therapeutic purposes saves time and costs, and reduces health risks.
The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Exeter Center for Biomedical Research, conducted a comprehensive review of 80 existing medicines, with the participation of an international panel of 21 experts from academia, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as people with dementia, with the aim of identifying the medicines best able to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for more than half of dementia cases.
Three candidates with different goals
The committee selected three priority drugs, all of which target biological processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs have shown good results in cellular and animal studies and are safe for use in older people.
The first is the shingles vaccine (Zostavax), as research indicates that shingles infection is linked to an increased risk of dementia, and it is believed that the vaccine may protect the brain from some harmful changes by enhancing the immune response.
Followed by sildenafil (Viagra), which contributes to protecting nerve cells and reducing the accumulation of tau protein in the brain. Studies on mice have also shown improved cognitive performance, and this is likely due to increased blood flow to the brain.
The third is riluzole, which reduces tau levels and enhances cognition in animal studies, and is currently used to treat motor neuron diseases.
The herpes zoster vaccine is at the forefront
The shingles vaccine stands out as the most promising treatment, since it requires only two doses and has a strong safety record.
Previous studies have shown that vaccine recipients may reduce their risk of developing dementia by up to 16%. The researchers plan to conduct a large-scale clinical trial in the United Kingdom.
Dr Anne Corbett, Professor of Dementia Research at the University of Exeter, said: “Drug repurposing is a key part of our strategy, helping us transform today’s medicines into tomorrow’s treatments. However, robust clinical trials are needed to see how effective they are in prevention or treatment.”
