Jul 9, 2008 7:01 pm US/Eastern
New Alzheimer's Drug Proves Promising
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
An old, almost forgotten drug may turn out to be a powerful new treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
The drug is called Clioquinol, in the past it was used to treat ameba infections. But since it has the ability to bind to heavy metals, it's now getting a second look for treating Alzheimer's.
In Alzheimer's some believe cooper and zinc cause the neurons to leak amyloid proteins. When the proteins come in contact with the metals they clump together and form plaques. The medicine binds to the metals, and clears the plaques away.
In clinical trials, the drug reversed the signs and symptoms of the disease in laboratory animals.
"Do you remember what month it is?" the neurologist asked Bonnie Lowe last week, and she struggled to answer. That's why she enrolled in a clinical trial for her Alzheimer's disease.
"If I can get any help for my memory, and all that, I would really appreciate it," she says.
Dr. Yavir Escovar is a board certified geriatrician at Memorial Regional Hospital who is hopeful about the use of Clioquinol to treat Alzheimer's.
"I think it's a promising theory," Dr. Escovar says.
He added that although the study was done in mice, it could pave the way for human trials, and one day possibly lead to a cure.
"I really hope that this study in the future can bring us some result so we can begin to give something to our patients. But also for the caregivers who often suffer the most."
Occasionally the drug can have some serious side-effects, but it is generally well-tolerated. Small human clinical trials have been conducted, and larger-scale studies are being planned.
Click Here for more information about Clioquinol.
Dr. Yavir Escovar can be reached at his office located at 192 South Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines. His phone number is
(954) 288-5569.
For more on Memory Disorders:
Click Here for Leeza's Place at Memorial Hospital Pembroke
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