A cancer-targeted drug can reverse symptoms in Alzheimer's disease mice

A new study from the University of British Columbia in Canada found that a drug commonly used to treat cancer can restore memory and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease mice

This drug called Axitinib (Axitinib, a targeted drug for kidney cancer) can inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in the brain-this is a common feature of cancer and Alzheimer's disease, but this feature also represents treatment A new target for Alzheimer's disease

Mice with Alzheimer's disease received axitinib treatment, the blood vessels and other disease markers in the brain decreased, and also performed very well in learning and memory tests

The senior author of the study, Professor Wilf Jefferies of the University of British Columbia, said: “We are really excited because these findings show that we can reuse approved anticancer drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of dementia that usually affects people over 65 years of age

Potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease have shown promise in animal models, but failed in clinical trials

"The vast majority of clinical trials directly or indirectly target β-amyloid or tau protein," said Professor Jefferies

The early pioneering work of Professor Jefferies showed that blood vessel proliferation can destroy the blood-brain barrier of patients with Alzheimer's disease, which laid the foundation for this research

Because tumors also rely on the growth of new blood vessels to survive and develop, the researchers inferred that a proven anti-cancer drug may be able to prevent this process in Alzheimer's disease

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In just one month of using Axitinib, the researchers significantly reduced blood vessel growth and restored the blood-brain barrier

So far, this therapy has only been applied to mice

Despite this, the researchers are still optimistic

Professor Jefferies said: “Researchers including me are disappointed

Professor Jefferies and his collaborators shared their results in the "EBioMedicine" magazine under The Lancet

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Chaahat SB Singh, Kyung Bok Choi, Lonna Munro, Hong Yue Wang, Cheryl G.