New Alzheimer’s Drug on the Horizon

The findings of a recent study out of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may lead to the first therapeutic drug to slow and treat advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists developed a drug, known for now simply as J147, which was proven to reverse memory deficits in aged and aging mice models after short-term treatment. After more research and development, J147 might make news again – this time as a brand new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Currently, there are no disease-modifying or -reversing drugs on the market for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, despite years of research and exploration. Current medications, including Aricept and Exelon, offer short term benefits in the way of slightly lulling the progression of the disease, when started early. They don’t, however, substantially slow or halt the irreversible decline of brain function and clarity of thought. And there is still no way to regain any memory that’s already been lost. There are currently over 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, which remains the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It’s also the only disease in the top ten causes of death that cannot be slowed, prevented or cured. The next step for J147 is to commence clinical trials to determine whether the drug is as safe and effective in people as it was in the mice models.