Asprin for AD?
CNBC just mentioned SALSALATE
One of the world’s oldest drugs which was first mentioned by Hippocrates in the 5th Century BC could help restore memory in Alzheimer’s patients, scientists hope.
Salsalate, which comes from the same family as aspirin, was typically used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
But a new study suggests that it can prevent the build-up of toxic proteins in the brain and even reverse damage already done, unblocking pathways and restoring memory.
Although the effects have only been seen in mice so far, scientists believe trials could quickly move to humans because researchers already know that the drug is safe and produces few side-effects.
The US scientists say it is the first time that a drug has been shown to reverse all toxic effects of the tau protein and Alzheimer's charities said the discovery was 'promising news.'
Tau proteins accumulate in people which dementia, driving neurodegeneration and mental decline. But a low dose of salsalate appears to lower tau levels ‘rescuing’ memories and protecting the hippocampus – a part of the brain essential for forming memories.
“We identified for the first time a pharmacological approach that reverses all aspects of tau toxicity," said Dr Li Gan, an associate investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, University of California.
"We found that salsalate reversed memory loss in a mouse model of dementia. These mice, which exhibit AD-related tau pathology, develop spatial memory loss at 7-months of age. We treated these mice with salsalate for about two months, and their memory loss is reversed.
"Remarkably, the profound protective effects of salsalate were achieved even though it was administered after disease onset, indicating that it may be an effective treatment option."