Studies Show Arthritis Drug Helps Alzheimer's Patients
Posted on January 18, 2008
This is London reports that U.S. researchers have had surprisingly positive results using an arthritis drug called Enbrel on alzheimer's patients. The drug is injected into the patients spine. One patient showed improvements within in minutes. Some patients have been able to drive again after receiving the treatements.
The drug, called Enbrel, is injected into the spine where it blocks a chemical responsible for damaging the brain and other organs.It is likely that there are many different forms of Alzheimer's and one treatment probably won't be a cure for all Alzheimer's sufferers. But hopefully this is a step in the right direction toward a treatment that will help many people.A pilot study carried out by U.S. researchers found one patient had his symptoms reversed "in minutes".
Other patients have shown some improvements in symptoms such as forgetfulness and confusion after weekly injections over six months.
The study of 15 patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's has just been published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation by online publishers Biomed Central.
The experiment showed that Enbrel can deactivate TNF (tumour necrosis factor) - a chemical in the fluid surrounding the brain that is found in Alzheimer's sufferers.
