Image from: Alzheimer's Association
Researchers Sanchez et al.from the Gladstone Institute, University of California San Franciso and Washington University School of Medicine discovered that an FDA-approved anti-convulsantmedication used to treat epilepsy (levetiracetam)can also reverse memory loss in addition to reducing other Alzheimers related symptoms in a mouse model of the disease.
Alzheimers is currently the most common form of dementia (memory loss) representing 50-80% ofcases. It is a disease that worsens over time. Although there are available medicationsto help slow the progression of the disease orlessen the symptoms, there is currently no cure. Presently, an estimated 5.4 million people have Alzheimers disease in the United States and thisnumber is expected to rise.
When administered to mice with Alzheimers, levetiracetam was found todecrease abnormal signaling in the brain by 50% in just one day. By 2 weeks, neurons within the brain exhibited signs of improved communication. Using a maze test, the researchers were able to demonstrate improved learning and memory with the anti-convulsant medication. Moreover, proteins necessary for normal brain function were restored to normal levels in the treated animals.
More research is needed however, to determine whether this new use of levetiracetam in the treatment of Alzheimers disease is effective and safe for humans.
Sources:
Sanchez PE, Zhua L, Verreta L, Vossela KA, Orra AG, Cirritoc JR, Devidzea N, Ho K, Yua G-Q, Palopa JJ, and Mucke L. Levetiracetam suppresses neuronal network dysfunction and reverses synaptic and cognitive deficits in an Alzheimers disease model. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121081109
Alzheimers Association
More here:
Epilepsy medication reverses symptoms of Alzheimer’s [Life Lines]