Experimental Alzheimer's drug shows anti-aging powers

A team of scientists has found that an experimental drug candidate aimed at combating Alzheimer's disease has a host of unexpected anti-aging effects in animals.

The Salk Institute researchers expanded upon their previous development of a drug candidate, called J147, which takes a different tack by targeting Alzheimer's major risk factor--old age. In the new work, the team showed that the drug candidate worked well in a mouse model of aging not typically used in Alzheimer's research. When these mice were treated with J147, they had better memory and cognition, healthier blood vessels in the brain and other improved physiological features.

Initially, the impetus was to test this drug in a novel animal model that was more similar to 99 percent of Alzheimer's cases, says lead author Antonio Currais, adding that J147 made old mice look like they were young, based upon a number of physiological parameters.

Researcher David Schubert said that if proven safe and effective for Alzheimer's, the apparent anti-aging effect of J147 would be a welcome benefit. The team aims to begin human trials next year.

The study appears in Aging.