medication Archive – Kompetenz statt Demenz

Recent study shows: Antibody drugs for Alzheimer’s shrink the brain

Recent study shows: Antibody drugs for Alzheimer’s shrink the brain

By Kerstin Groß-Steinmeyer|2023-07-05T18:40:58+02:005. July 2023|Categories: causes, forms of treatment, medication|

An Australian study found that antibody drugs for Alzheimer's, such as aducanumab and lecanemab, can reduce brain volumes. Despite successful reduction of Alzheimer's-specific amyloid-beta deposits, the benefit of these drugs remains questionable. They slow cognitive decline only slightly and have severe side effects. The study also suggests that these drugs promote the cardinal structural symptom of Alzheimer's disease, brain atrophy. Thus, they increase the risk of brain tissue loss, a direct cause of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

The new Alzheimer’s drug Lecanemab: miracle drug or flop? Take a look for yourself!

The new Alzheimer’s drug Lecanemab: miracle drug or flop? Take a look for yourself!

By Kerstin Groß-Steinmeyer|2023-01-24T19:36:33+01:0014. December 2022|Categories: causes, forms of treatment, medication|

The situation is escalating: While the number of Alzheimer's patients in Germany and worldwide is increasing dramatically, a pharmacological [...]

Breaking News: Possible fraud in Alzheimer’s research puts the “Amyloid-plaque theory” into question!

Breaking News: Possible fraud in Alzheimer’s research puts the “Amyloid-plaque theory” into question!

By Jens Brünnler|2023-03-21T14:11:51+01:0014. September 2022|Categories: drugs, forms of treatment, medication, prevention|Tags: Prevention, Research, Treatment, β-Amyloid|

The Amyloid theory is accepted to date as the major justification for the development of Alzheimer's disease and has guided the focus of research in this area. According to this theory, the formation of amyloid plaques, often also referred to as senile plaques, that is, abnormal deposits of the amyloid beta protein (Aβ) in the brain would be the direct cause for the symptoms of this type of dementia. This theory was born in the first description of the disease in 1907, when Alois Alzheimer found a large amount of those plaques distributed in the brain of his famous patient Auguste Deter, when examining her brain after her death. In 1984, Aβ was identified as the main component of the plaques.

New trails on anti-Amyloid drug failed

New trails on anti-Amyloid drug failed

By Jens Brünnler|2019-12-16T11:16:23+01:0018. December 2019|Categories: clinical trial, forms of treatment, medication|

Lanabecestat is a potent inhibitor of Amyloid beta (Aβ) formation – the main component of amyloid plaques. Aβ is formed through cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by proteases known as secretases (β and γ). The Beta-site-APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) cleaves APP at the β-secretase site, after which APP is cleaved by γ secretase to generate Aβ peptides. Lanabecestat inhibits BACE1 and was able to reduce levels of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and plasma in several animal models, as well as in human CSF and plasma. Besides that, Lanabecestat is brain permeable meaning that an adequate amount of this substance is able to reach the brain after oral intake.

Statins and Dementia: Better keep your brain cells alive!

Statins and Dementia: Better keep your brain cells alive!

By Jens Brünnler|2019-12-10T13:37:06+01:0025. October 2019|Categories: medication|Tags: risc factors, β-Amyloid|

Several million patients in Germany are treated with statins. In 2004, the consumption of lipid-lowering drugs throughout Germany amounted to around 856 million defined daily doses (DDD). In 2011 the amount increased to: 1.718 million DDD. With the target to lower cholesterol levels, this doubtful strategy is still being mistakenly promoted to reduce heart disease risk. As a side effect, doctors and patients are accepting a possible cognitive decline. These are the results of a study published in 2018 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, which looked into the relationship between cholesterol and cognitive function [1]. While cholesterol is still largely vilified, and statin use still heavily promoted, the study found that having lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is linked to a higher risk of dementia.