According to the article, Alzheimer disease (AD) is thought to be caused by a buildup of "plaque" in the brain which includes the protein beta-amyloid. Scientists believe that blocking the production or accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain could prevent or slow AD.
Colin L. Masters, M.D., of the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues developed a study to determine whether clioquinol, a metal-protein attenuating compound (MPAC), might help to reduce beta-amyloid levels and slow the rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD. The compound is thought to work by inhibiting zinc and copper ions from binding to beta-amyloid, thereby helping to dissolve the protein and preventing it from accumulating. Therapies that block metal ions from interacting with other molecules in the body are known as "chelation" therapies.
The researchers conducted a pilot phase 2 clinical trial of their compound in 36 patients with moderately severe AD. Eighteen patients received 125 milligrams of clioquinol twice per day for 12 weeks, then 250 milligrams twice per day for weeks 13 to 24, and 375 milligrams twice per day from weeks 25 to 36. Eighteen patients received similar doses of placebo over 36 weeks.
The patients were given tests to measure cognition at the beginning of the study and again at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 36. Levels of beta-amyloid in the blood were measured every four weeks.
The researchers found that "plasma beta-amyloid levels declined in the clioquinol group and increased in the placebo group." Patients taking clioquinol also had better scores on tests
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Contact: Rachel Horton
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JAMA and Archives Journals
15-Dec-2003