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Alzheimer's First Steps Blocked by Old Drug?
12 Feb
Summary
- An old anti-seizure drug may prevent early Alzheimer's steps.
- It stops toxic protein buildup before symptoms appear.
- Drug targets those at high risk, like Down syndrome patients.
A common anti-seizure medication, levetiracetam, is being investigated for its potential to halt Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages. Research suggests this inexpensive drug can prevent brain cells from creating toxic protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's, rather than clearing them after formation.
The drug targets the production of amyloid-beta 42, a harmful protein fragment that accumulates within synaptic vesicles. By interacting with the SV2A protein, levetiracetam appears to slow the recycling of these vesicles, thereby altering how another protein, APP, is processed. This mechanism steers neurons away from generating the toxic fragment.
This preventative strategy is believed to be most effective long before cognitive decline is detectable, potentially twenty years prior. It is considered particularly beneficial for individuals with a high genetic predisposition or those with Down syndrome, who are at increased risk for early-onset Alzheimer's.
Early analysis of human clinical data suggests levetiracetam use correlates with a longer period between cognitive decline onset and death. While not a controlled trial, these findings support the drug's potential to slow Alzheimer's pathology. Further research is underway to develop improved versions of the drug.
