Medications commonly used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate may also lower the risk of a particular type of dementia, a study suggests.
Researchers have discovered a link between common prostate medications and a lower risk of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
DLB accounts for around one in 10 of all dementia cases in the UK (the equivalent of around 100,000 people) and is caused by protein build-ups in brain cells.
It is the form of the condition that comedian Robin Williams suffered from before his suicide in 2014.
Now, experts believe these “promising” drugs may help slow its progression or even prevent the disease altogether.
A team at the University of Iowa analyzed data from 643,000 men who were just starting to take one of six medications to treat an enlarged prostate.
Lewy body dementia is the form of the condition that comedian Robin Williams suffered from before his suicide in 2014. Here he appears at the 35th annual People’s Choice Awards in 2009.
Three of the drugs, terazosin (Tz), doxazosin (Dz) and alfuzosin (Az), are already known to increase energy production in brain cells.
Previous studies suggest that this ability may help slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
The other three drugs (tamsulosin and two 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors) do not improve energy production in the brain.
The participants were followed for about three years, and the team found that those taking the drugs Tz, Dz, or Az were less likely to develop dementia with Lewy bodies.
Lead author Jacob Simmering said: “Diseases like Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease are debilitating and we don’t really have any good treatments that can modify the progression of the disease.”
‘We can treat the symptoms, but we can’t actually stop the disease.
“We found that men taking Tz/Dz/Az medications were less likely to develop a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.
“Overall, men taking (these) medications had about a 40 percent lower risk of developing a diagnosis of MCI compared to men taking tamsulosin and about a 37 percent lower risk compared to men taking were taking 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
The team said they are excited about the potential of these drugs, which are already approved, affordable and have been used safely for decades.
“If terazosin and these similar medications can help slow this progression, if not directly prevent the disease, it would be important for preserving cognitive function and quality of life in people with Lewy body dementia,” Dr. Simmering added. .
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common disease that causes dementia, behind Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Symptoms may include visual hallucinations, sleeping problems, problems with the speed of thought and language, and slow movements.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Julia Dudley, head of research strategy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said it was “encouraging to see large studies exploring whether drugs already approved for other medical conditions could have a protective effect for the diseases they cause.” dementia”.
But they can also be a sign of dementia, the memory-robbing disease that affects almost 1 million Britons and 7 million Americans.
He added: “As these drugs have already been shown to be safe for use in people, this could speed up the testing process in clinical trials.”
‘It is important to note, however, that this study only looked at whether people developed MCI or not, and that future trials would be needed to confirm a causal link between the drug and disease progression.
“The study also included only male participants, even though women used the same medications to treat urinary symptoms, highlighting the need for future research to include broader groups of people.”
The findings were published in the journal Neurology.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of neurological disorders.
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own way.
Dementia is a global concern, but is seen more frequently in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of those diagnosed.
In the United States, there are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, their risk of developing dementia also increases.
Diagnosis rates are improving, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new medications can slow its progression and the earlier it is detected, the more effective the treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society