Nashville, TN, December 6, 2006 A new cardiovascular drug screening has identified existing anti-hypertensive agents capable of preventing cognitive decline and amyloid neuropathology associated with Alzheimers disease. The research, conducted by Dr. Gulio Maria Pasinetti at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY, was released today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacologys (ACNP) annual conference. These findings suggest that a large number of geriatric patients currently under pharmacological treatment for high-blood pressure with certain anti-hypertensive drugs may also reap the benefits of the drugs cognitive effects.

Dr. Pasinettis research is part of a growing push to identify and develop more effective treatments for Alzheimers disease. This devastating, degenerative illness is of particular concern now Boomers begin to turn 60 and are at increased risk for developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimers disease.

There is no convincing evidence that there is any available drug presently on the market to cure Alzheimers disease, and there are many questions surrounding the effectiveness of drugs that are available to delay or effectively alleviate symptoms of memory deterioration or dementia, said Pasinetti. Despite major breakthroughs over the past ten years in understanding the pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms and possible causes of Alzheimers disease, limited progress has been done in the identification of novel therapeutic strategies that made a real impact in the prevention or treatment of the disease in the general population.

Over the past two years, researchers have begun screening drugs that are already commercially available for treatment of other disorders to determine their potential value in treating Alzheimers disease and cognitive impairment.

Commonly prescribed drugs were administered in vitro to brain cells derived from animal models genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimers
'"/>

Contact: Sharon Reis
sreis@gymr.com
202-745-5103
GYMR
6-Dec-2006

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Childhood obesity indicates greater risk of school absenteeism, Penn study reveals
2. Penn study finds pro-death proteins required to regulate healthy immune function
3. New study shows promise in reducing surgical risks associated with surgical bleeding
4. New study counts the economic cost of persistent pain in Australia
5. UCLA researchers awarded $9M contract for study identifiying antibiotic treatment for MRSA
6. Most seniors now have drug coverage, U-M study shows
7. To gain muscle and lose fat, drink milk: study
8. Wheres the beef? Not enough of it is on elders plates, muscle-metabolism study suggests
9. Even older women at high risk have little interest in being tested for HIV, study finds
10. Metabolic study in mice could lead to good cholesterol boosters
11. Michigan-CDC study supports value of social restrictions during influenza pandemics