Nerve Drug Improves Brain Activity in Alzheimer's Patients

A study of 19 patients administered a nerve regeneration drug has shown that the compound increases metabolism in brain areas and improves memory, attention, and judgment in Alzheimer's patients. Data from the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The improvement was dose related, with 500 mg and 1,000 mg doses producing statistically more benefit than the 150 mg dose. The functional improvements were demonstrated by a battery of neurocognitive tests. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and electroencephalography (EEG) were consistent with the improvements shown. The compound, called Neotrofin (AIT-082), was developed by NeoTherapeutics, Inc. (Irvine, CA, USA). The company hopes to confirm the findings of the study in another clinical study next year.

"The clinical symptoms that were affected positively by Neotrofin--memory, attention, and judgment--are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease,” noted Dr. Steven Potkin, M.D., director of the brain imaging center at the University of California, Irvine (USA), who conducted the study.



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