Researchers at the University of Manchester (Great Britain) have just discovered that mefenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug better known as Ponstyl, prescribed for dental pain, period pain Where headaches, could reverse memory loss.
For this study published in the journal Nature communications, Dr David Brough and his team used 20 mice that were genetically engineered to develop the Alzheimer’s disease. Once these mice developed memory problems, half of them were treated for a month with the anti-inflammatory drug while the other half received a placebo. The drugs were administered using a mini-pump placed under the skin.
The mice have recovered their memory
At the end of the test, the mice treated with mefenamic acid showed a complete reversal of their memory losses, returning to a level of memory identical to that of the mice not affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Further study found that mefenamic acid targets a pro-inflammatory pathway known to damage brain cells.
According to Dr. Brough, this study highlights the importance of this inflammatory pathway in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. But he admits that a lot of work is still needed to determine whether the anti-inflammatory can be an effective treatment in humans.
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