Medical News: ICAD: Alzheimer's Drug Mechanism Defies Animal Studies - in Meeting Coverage, ICAD from MedPage Today

An independent study aimed at understanding the mechanism of dimebolin (Dimebon), a controversial, yet potentially beneficial investigational anti-Alzheimer's drug, was long on questions and short on answers, researchers here said. For example when the drug was examined in a mouse model, short-term administration resulted in a rapid increase in levels of A-beta amyloid. Beta amyloid is a putative cause of Alzheimer's disease and reducing levels of the compound in the brain is a frequent goal of drug therapy for Alzheimer's. The rise in amyloid levels was surprising in light of published Phase II clinical data indicating that dimebolin -- long used as an antihistamine in Russia -- not only delayed deterioration in Alzheimer's patients, but also appeared to improve cognition in some patients. (See Old Antihistamine Pops Up as Potential Alzheimer's Therapy) Full Article: Medical News: ICAD: Alzheimer's Drug Mechanism Defies Animal Studies - in Meeting Coverage, ICAD from MedPage Today