Can aspirin reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

New York, July 3: The administration of low-dose aspirin – a drug commonly used to treat pain, fever or inflammation – may help reduce plaques in the brain , reduce the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and protect memory. A study conducted by a researcher of Indian origin

The results showed that over-the-counter medication decreases amyloid plaque – main signs of Alzheimer's disease – pathology in mice by stimulating lysosomes – the animal cell component that "the study identifies a possible new role for one of the most widely used and prevalent over-the-counter medications in the world," said lead author and researcher Principal Kalipada Pahan of the Department of Neurology. Science, Rush Medical College.

"The research adds another potential benefit to the already established uses of aspirin for the relief of pain and for the treatment of cardiovascular disease," Pahan said.

In the study, p published in Journal of Neuroscience, the team administered oral aspirin for one month to genetically modified mice with Alzheimer's disease , then evaluated the amount of amyloid plaque in the brain parts most affected by Alzheimer's disease

. the drugs increased TFEB – a protein considered the main regulator of waste removal, stimulated lysosomes and a pathology of decreased amyloid plaque in mice

"Understanding how plaques are eliminated is important to develop effective drugs that stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. "However, experts have questioned the potential of aspirin, citing the failure of several recent major human trials in drugs that reduce amyloid plaques.

"A number of compounds reached this level of amyloid reduction in mice, yet failed subsequently in clinical trials in humans," Clive Ballard, of Exeter University, was quoted as saying to watlas.com.

"Failures can result from differences between Alzheimer's mice and human pathology, and from poor translation of benefits in humans," he said.

In addition, in human clinical trials, the drug was found "no beneficial effects on outcome measures and was badociated with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding," noted Rob Howard, of University College London.