Friday, February 10, 2012

Wow. This could be huge for defeating Alzheimer's

Some of the greatest discoveries of mankind have been found serendipitously (Borepatch, that means by accident).  Penicillin, Teflon, plastic and even Coca Cola are great examples of things that were invented accidentally.  Well, you may be able to add bexorotene as an outright cure for Alzheimer's to that list.  Bexorotene is a drug that is used to treat certain forms of skin cancer.  Researchers at Case Western were giving high doses of the drug to mice as part of a research project that had nothing to do with the horrible, degenerative, mind wasting disease.  And within 72 hours, a mouse with that had exhibited all of the signs of Alzheimer's was cured.  They ran more tests.  Normal mice would use a sheet of tissue paper to line their nest.  Alzheimer's mice forgot how.  Normal mice would not re-enter a cage where they had previously been given an electrical shock.  Mice with Alzheimer's would.  After being given high doses of bexorotene, the Alzheimer's mice feathered their nest with tissue and would refuse to go into the electrified cage.  When the researchers checked the amyloid plague build-up in the brains of the mice previously diagnosed with Alzheimer's (which is a hallmark of an Azheimer's diseased brain), it was reduced by 25% in just 6 hours and by 50% in three days time.  This is not a chance discovery of a preventative medication, it is a cure.  And since bexorotene is an already FDA approved drug, human trials can begin immediately.  Lets keep our fingers crossed.

4 comments:

Rev. Paul said...

I linked to this one, sir.

ProudHillbilly said...

I seem to be saying "Wow" a lot today...Amazing.

Stephen said...

Thank the good Lord.

Brock Townsend said...

Impressive and posted.