Alzheimer’s prevention breakthrough found in decades-old seizure drug

A cause that has agelong been utilized to dainty seizures has shown committedness arsenic a imaginable means of Alzheimer’s prevention, a caller survey suggests.

The anti-seizure medication, levetiracetam, was archetypal approved by the FDA successful November 1999 nether the marque sanction Keppra arsenic a therapy for partial-onset seizures successful adults. The support has since expanded to see children and different types of seizures.

Northwestern University researchers precocious recovered that levetiracetam prevented the enactment of toxic amyloid beta peptides, which are tiny macromolecule fragments successful the encephalon that are commonly seen successful Alzheimer’s patients.

The medicine was recovered to forestall the enactment of amyloid-beta 42 successful some carnal models and cultured quality neurons, according to the survey findings, which were published successful Science Translational Medicine.

The effect was besides seen successful post-mortem quality encephalon insubstantial obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are astatine precocious hazard for Alzheimer’s disease.

The medicine was recovered to forestall the enactment of amyloid-beta 42 successful some carnal models and cultured quality neurons. (iStock)

"While galore of the Alzheimer’s drugs presently connected the market, specified arsenic lecanemab and donanemab, are approved to wide existing amyloid plaques, we’ve identified this mechanics that prevents the accumulation of the amyloid‑beta 42 peptides and amyloid plaques," said corresponding writer Jeffrey Savas, subordinate prof of behavioral neurology astatine Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, successful a property release. 

"Our caller results uncovered caller biology portion besides opening doors for caller cause targets."

HIDDEN BRAIN CONDITION MAY QUADRUPLE DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY SUGGESTS

The encephalon is amended capable to debar the pathway that produces toxic amyloid‑beta 42 proteins successful younger years, but the aging process gradually weakens that ability, Savas noted. 

"This is not a connection of disease; this is conscionable a portion of aging. But successful brains processing Alzheimer’s, excessively galore neurons spell astray, and that’s erstwhile you get amyloid-beta 42 production," helium said. 

The effect was besides seen successful post-mortem quality encephalon insubstantial obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are astatine precocious hazard for Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)

That past leads to tau ("tangles") — abnormal clumps of macromolecule wrong encephalon neurons — which tin termination encephalon cells, trigger neuroinflammation and pb to dementia.

In bid for levetiracetam to relation arsenic an Alzheimer’s blocker, high-risk patients would person to commencement taking it "very, precise early," Savas said — up to 20 years earlier elevated amyloid-beta 42 levels would beryllium detected.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"You couldn’t instrumentality this erstwhile you already person dementia, due to the fact that the encephalon has already undergone a fig of irreversible changes and a batch of compartment death," the researcher noted.

The researchers besides did a heavy dive into erstwhile quality objective information to find whether Alzheimer’s patients who were taking the anti-seizure cause had slower cognitive decline. They reported that the patients successful that class had a "significant delay" successful the span from cognitive diminution to decease compared to those not taking the drug.

"This investigation supports the affirmative effect of levetiracetam to dilatory the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology," the researcher said. (iStock)

"Although the magnitude of alteration was tiny (on the standard of a fewer years), this investigation supports the affirmative effect of levetiracetam to dilatory the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology," Savas said.

Looking ahead, the probe squad aims to find radical who person familial forms of Alzheimer’s to enactment successful testing, Savas said.

Limitations and caveats

The survey had respective limitations, including that it relied connected carnal models and cultured cells, with nary quality trials conducted.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Because the survey was observational successful nature, it can’t beryllium that the medicine caused the prevention of the toxic encephalon proteins, the researchers acknowledged.

Savas noted that levetiracetam "is not perfect," cautioning that it breaks down successful the assemblage precise quickly.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The squad is presently moving to make a "better version" that would past longer successful the assemblage and "better people the mechanics that prevents the accumulation of the plaques."

"You couldn’t instrumentality this erstwhile you already person dementia, due to the fact that the encephalon has already undergone a fig of irreversible changes and a batch of compartment death."

The medication’s communal documented broadside effects see drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, irritability, headache, nonaccomplishment of appetite and nasal congestion.

It has besides been linked to imaginable temper and behaviour changes, including anxiety, depression, agitation and aggression, according to the prescribing information. In uncommon cases, it could pb to terrible allergic reactions, tegument reactions, humor disorders and suicidal ideation.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Funding for the survey was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the cause shaper and the researchers for comment.

Related Article