Drugs Targeting Dementia-Causing Toxic Particles Could Be Trialed in Two Years

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America details an "innovative drug discovery approach" to attack the toxic particles that cause dementia, which the authors hope will be trialed in the next several years, reports Newsweek . The researchers say the method cultivates small molecules that can slow down the formation of the particles. The team has thus far tested the molecules in laboratory assays and in roundworms, and is currently running tests on mice. The University of Cambridge's Michele Vendruscolo says the team may see the first results of clinical trials two or three years from now. Stony Brook Medicine Professor Nikhil Palekar says the work is theoretically promising, but it "needs to translate into successful drug development." Palekar also notes, "Alzheimer's disease is a hugely important public health issue, with millions afflicted worldwide. The need for more research towards novel therapeutic targets cannot be overstated."