Antihistamine Treatments for Alzheimer's
A study conducted in 2006 by Professor Rachel Doody MD and others has sparked much debate about the possibility of treating Alzheimer's disease with antihistamines. Although the results of the study are promising, far more study is required to determine the feasibility of antihistamines as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
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The Drug
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The study, conducted in Russia, examined a specific Russian antihistamine called dimebon that is no longer marketed.
The Funding
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Doctors are cautious about the study results because the study was funded by dimebon's manufacturer, Medivation, Inc.
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The Participants
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Both men and women with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were studied. Of the 183 study participants, 155 finished the study.
The Results
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All of the study participants who received dimebon rather than the placebo showed improvements in cognition.
The Mystery
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Most Alzheimer's research has led doctors to believe that the key to treating the disease is removing a chemical called beta amyloid from the body. Dimebon, however, worked to improve Alzheimer's symptoms in spite of the fact that the drug actually increases beta amyloid amounts.
A Warning
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According to MedPage Today, dimebon was never FDA approved as an antihistamine. The drug has also not yet been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease as it is still in the experimental phase.
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