A drug which increases the release of growth hormones has failed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in humans, despite having offered promising results in studies on mice, a study published Tuesday has found.
Previous studies on mice had shown that a hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 helped reduce the accumulation of plaque on the brain.
Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
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This plaque, called beta-amyloid, is thought to be an important cause of the memory and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Researchers used an experimental drug to stimulate the release of growth hormone in 208 people who had mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Another 208 patients were given placebo pills during the year-long study.
![Parkinsons Disease]( "Parkinsons Disease")
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease are correctable to an extent.
They successfully managed to increase the level of growth hormone in the blood of those patients receiving the drug which then stimulated the release of the insulin-like growth factor-1 hormone.
However, the drug did not manage to slow the symptoms of the disease, the study published in the journal Neurology found.
"This work suggests that targeting this hormone system may not be an effective approach to slowing the rate of Alzheimer's disease progression," said study author J.J. Sevigny of Merck Research Laboratories in Pennsylvania.
"Importantly, it challenges the common theory that hormones may attack beta-amyloid plaque in the brain and builds on the body of clinical evidence for Alzheimer's disease as we seek to develop more effective treatments."
Source: AFP
SRM
Parkinsons Disease
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease are correctable to an extent.
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They successfully managed to increase the level of growth hormone in the blood of those patients receiving the drug which then stimulated the release of the insulin-like growth factor-1 hormone.
However, the drug did not manage to slow the symptoms of the disease, the study published in the journal Neurology found.
"This work suggests that targeting this hormone system may not be an effective approach to slowing the rate of Alzheimer's disease progression," said study author J.J. Sevigny of Merck Research Laboratories in Pennsylvania.
"Importantly, it challenges the common theory that hormones may attack beta-amyloid plaque in the brain and builds on the body of clinical evidence for Alzheimer's disease as we seek to develop more effective treatments."
Source: AFP
SRM
Brilliant Human Brain - Animation
The most amazing and complex organ in the entire universe, the human brain continues to remain an enigma.
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 Know Your Nervous SystemThe Central nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the body's nerve network. This complex system is based on one kind of cell the neurons. | Advertisement
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