Monday, July 24, 2006

Promising Alzheimers Research Report

This report was published in our New Zealand press yesterday:

"Australians announce one-a-day pill for Alzheimers disease."
"Melbourne - Australian scientists may have found a cure for Alzheimers disease.

In a world first, a Melbourne research team has developed the once-a-day pill to combat the brain disease. Human trials of the drug start next month, the Sunday Herald Sun says.

The drug, known as PBT2, was developed by the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria in partnership with Prana Biotechnology in Melbourne.

"It is a major breakthrough and very much a Melbourne discovery," said Professor George Fink, the director of the Mental Health Research Institute. "Though much depends on the next phase of human clinical trials, ...early results indicate this drug offers hope to people with Alzheimers disease."

Prof Fink said the drug could prevent or delay Alzheimers from developing.

Many scientists accept amyloid is a major cause of Alzheimers and clinical tests have found the drug acts fast, lowering amyloid levels by 60% within 24 hours.

It also found PBT2 suppressed the impairment of memory function."
-AAP
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