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Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Show Promising Target For Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers and scientists at the University of Kentuckyu2019s Sander-Brown Center on Aging have been investigating the idea that various anti-inflammatory drugs might be effective treatments for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), this work has been focused on protein p38 as a potential target drug to treat AD and other conditions with neuroinflammatory dysfunction. Findings from their recent study have been recently published in PLOS ONE.u00a0

Genetic techniques were used to stop the production of p38 in the microglia in early-stage mouse models of AD, which is the major immune cell type within the brain. Then they tested the effects of this to determine if it would alter the trajectory of amyloid plaque formation. The team reports that while the plaques themselves were not affected the amount of microglia in proximity to the plaques was decreased, which suggests that suppression of microglial p38 may affect their interactions with certain aspects of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. 

Currently, there are some classes of anti-inflammatory drugs that include p38 inhibitors under clinical development which have shown promising results during recent human clinical trials. But it is important to note that it is not clear at what phase during the disease process that these p38 inhibitors should be administered, or whether or not the long-term suppression of p38 is harmful. Findings from this study suggest that early inhibition might alter the interactions between microglia and Alzheimer’s disease pathology, and the researchers report that thus far long-term suppression of p38 does not appear to cause any noticeable adverse effects.

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.

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References/Sources/Materials provided by:

https://uknow.uky.edu/research/new-study-shows-anti-inflammatory-drugs-promising-target-alzheimer-s-disease

https://www.uky.edu/

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286495



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