Cancer Drugs Show Promise in Alzheimer’s Fight

Repurposed treatments potentially improve brain function in mice

Researchers have pinpointed two existing cancer medications that may offer a dual benefit: fighting cancer and simultaneously reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery emerges as scientists intensify efforts to mitigate the growing impact of the neurodegenerative condition on an aging global population.

Unlikely Candidates Emerge from Drug Screening

A comprehensive study, published in the journal *Cell*, involved sifting through over 1,300 drug compounds. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, focused on identifying substances that could potentially alleviate Alzheimer’s, a disease currently lacking a cure. From this extensive list, only 90 drugs targeted specific brain cell genes implicated in Alzheimer’s. Further analysis narrowed this down to just five drugs showing evidence of risk reduction in human patients.

Promising Results in Animal Models

The research team selected letrozole, a breast cancer treatment, and irinotecan, used for colon and lung cancer, for further testing in mice. “We didn’t expect cancer drugs to come up,” shared study co-author Marina Sirota with NBC News. The combined administration of these two drugs appeared to enhance memory and cognitive function in aging mice exhibiting early signs of dementia.

Path to Human Trials and Cost-Effectiveness

While these findings are significant, they require validation through human clinical trials. The repurposing of existing drugs offers a more rapid and cost-effective pathway compared to developing entirely new medications. “Developing a new drug can take hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, on average take more than ten years,” explained study co-author Dr. Yadong Huang. “For this repurposed drug, usually it just takes two or three years, and then you can go to the clinical trial and the cost is much, much lower. We still haven’t generated or produced any very effective drugs that can really slow dramatically the cognitive decline.”

The Growing Alzheimer’s Challenge

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that over seven million Americans currently live with the disease, affecting one in nine individuals aged 65 and older. Projections indicate a substantial increase in these numbers as the U.S. population ages. The economic burden is also expected to soar, with care costs for dementia patients projected to climb from $384 billion in 2025 to nearly $1 trillion by 2050.