The drug could help with cognition
A potential new drug could bring benefits for cognition in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, research suggests.
The new information was presented today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference today.
The phase 2 trial involving 409 people found that people who took EVP-6124 for 23 weeks had statistically significant benefits on a range of measures of cognition. Results for other measures, including activities of daily living, were not significant.
The drug – an alpha-7 nicotinic agonist – amplifies the effects of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that is essential for normal brain and memory function. It uses a different mechanism to do this than existing treatments such as Aricept, Reminyl and Excelon.
Alzheimer’s Society comment:
"Although the evidence suggests this drug could have moderate benefits for some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s there is little to suggest it is any better than existing treatments. That said, after further development, it could prove to be a useful alternative for people who are intolerant to other options. It may also work well in combination.
"However, to say we are close to having a new treatment would be jumping the gun. More research is needed to see whether this drug has significant benefits not only for cognition but also for other symptoms in large groups of people."
Tagged in Health Alzheimer's Alzheimer's Disease