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Alzheimer Drug PBT2 Boosts Brain Function
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Any news about the dreaded Alzheimer's Disease (AD) immediately grabs the nation's attention. The reasons are obvious. But don't take my word for it.
Read on and see for yourself.
An estimated 4.5 million Americans are currently battling AD at an annual health care cost exceeding $100 billion a year. But, the staggering cost
of AD is only half the story. This problem is far from being solved, and the future looks grim.
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the rapid aging of the American population threatens to increase this burden significantly
in the coming decades.
The annual number of cases of AD will begin to sharply increase around the year 2030, when all the baby boomers will be over age 65.
By the year 2050, the number of Americans with AD could rise to some 13.2 million, an almost three-fold increase.
There it is. AD is big news because it's everyone's problem. For the individual, an AD diagnosis is tantamount to a dead sentence. For millions of
family caregivers, the burden of caring for an AD family member is emotionally, physically, and financially devastating. For the nation,
AD has the potential to bankrupt the United States healthcare system.
Prana Biotechnology, a bio-pharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, announced
(July 30, 2008) the publication of the results of its Phase 2a clinical trial on Alzheimer's disease patients in The Lancet Neurology journal.
PBT2, Prana's lead Alzheimer's drug, improved executive function, an important aspect of cognitive performance, in patients with early stage Alzheimer's disease.
Executive function, controlled by the brain's frontal lobe (photo) consists of memory, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
The Lancet Neurology journal published clinical results of a new drug, PBT2, improved executive function in early stage Alzheimer's. In the cognitive tests,
patients on PBT2 performed significantly better than placebo (those not receiving the drug) in two tests of executive function.
Patients who received the PBT2 drug completed test tasks an average of 42 seconds faster than they had at the beginning of the clinical trial.
In contrast, the placebo group performed an average of 6 seconds slower.
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a disorder that leads to loss of mental and physical functions, rarely under 50 years of age, and most often over age 65.
Symptoms of AD include impaired judgment, ability to problem-solve, recent and long-term memory loss, inability to concentrate, and disorientation about
time and place. As a result, victims exhibit irritability, paranoia, and hallucination.
Many people who have Alzheimer's disease deny the significance of their symptoms. As the disease advances, they may need help with daily activities,
such as food preparation and bathing.
Mild forgetfulness is typical in the early stages of AD. The next stage is usually marked by poor concentration, trouble with speech and language, and wandering.
Later, memory problems become more severe.
Early intervention is key to addressing AD. That's why the positive news about this new AD drug is important to the health and well-being of nation's elderly,
family caregivers, and health care system.
Content Sources: AgeVenture News Service, Lancet, National Institutes of Health, Drug Digest, Prana Biotechnology, National Institute on Aging.
Image Credit: www.drugdigest.org
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