A drug for leukemia and colon cancer might also inhibit the formation of the waxy plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, a study of animals shows. The drug, imatinib mesylate, which is marketed as Gleevec, is an enzyme suppressor.
In the Oct. 14 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers report that experiments on cultured rat brain cells show that the drug reduces the formation of the peptide called amyloid-beta, which typically forms into the plaques.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.