A drug previously approved as an antihistamine in Russia may serve as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, new findings indicate.
The study from the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston found that Dimebon improved thinking processes and the overall ability to function when administered to patients with Alzheimer’s.
Lead researcher Dr Rachelle Doody, professor of neurology at BCM, said: "More research is needed, but we are encouraged by the effect the drug Dimebon had on Alzheimer’s patients. What we saw in the clinical trial is that people on the medication continued to improve over time."
Over the space of a year, the drug led to continued improvement in patients with Alzheimer’s, while those on the placebo declined.
The authors of the report believe the medication works by stabilizing mitochondria and inhibiting brain cell death.
Dr Doody added: "As we continue research, we hope to replicate these results. My belief is that this drug will turn out to be useful for Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of the stage of the disease."
