The search for answers to dementia is increasingly turning toward treatments that already exist.
Instead of waiting years for new drugs to be developed, researchers are re-examining what is already on pharmacy shelves.
A major review led by the University of Exeter has identified three approved medicines that could potentially be repurposed to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease. The findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.
An international panel of 21 experts from academia, healthcare and industry evaluated 80 drugs before selecting the most promising options based on safety and scientific evidence.
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Top contenders
The shingles vaccine Zostavax ranked highest among the shortlisted treatments. Previous population studies have suggested lower dementia rates among vaccinated individuals, pointing to a possible link between immune responses and brain health.
Sildenafil, widely known for treating erectile dysfunction, has shown in laboratory research that it may reduce the build-up of tau proteins and improve blood flow in the brain.
Riluzole, prescribed for motor neurone disease, has demonstrated cognitive improvements in animal studies.
Faster pathway
According to the University of Exeter and Alzheimer’s Society, repurposing approved medicines could significantly cut development time and costs compared with creating new drugs from scratch.
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Alzheimer’s accounts for more than half of dementia cases, which affects around one million people in the UK.
Researchers are now calling for large-scale clinical trials to determine whether these treatments can genuinely reduce risk or slow progression.
Sources: Springer Nature and Science Daily
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