Shingles Vaccine, Viagra, and Motor Neurone Disease Drug Show Promise Against Alzheimer’s

A major new study has identified three existing medications – a shingles vaccine (Zostavax), Viagra (sildenafil), and riluzole – as potential candidates for repurposing in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The research, led by the University of Exeter and funded by Alzheimer’s Society, offers a potentially faster, safer, and more cost-effective route to new treatments for the devastating condition.

The Promise of Drug Repurposing

Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, affecting around one million people, and one in three individuals born today will likely develop dementia in their lifetime Alzheimer’s Society. Developing new drugs from scratch is a lengthy and expensive process, often taking 10 to 15 years and costing billions of pounds with no guarantee of success. Repurposing existing, approved medications offers a compelling alternative.

How the Candidates Were Chosen

An international panel of 21 dementia specialists, including experts from universities, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry, along with individuals affected by dementia, evaluated 80 existing drugs ScienceDaily. The goal was to identify medications that target biological processes linked to Alzheimer’s, have shown encouraging results in preclinical studies, and are considered safe for older adults. After multiple rounds of review, three drugs emerged as “priority candidates” for further research.

The Three Priority Candidates

• Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax): Studies suggest a potential link between the shingles virus, and dementia. The vaccine interacts with the immune system in a way that may help counter harmful changes associated with Alzheimer’s University of Exeter. Previous research indicates those who received the vaccine were approximately 16% less likely to develop dementia.
• Sildenafil (Viagra): Research suggests sildenafil may protect nerve cells and reduce the buildup of tau, a protein that accumulates abnormally in Alzheimer’s. Mouse studies have shown improved thinking and memory, potentially due to increased blood flow to the brain SciTechDaily.
• Riluzole: Currently used to treat motor neurone disease, riluzole has demonstrated improved cognitive performance and lowered tau levels in animal studies Alzheimer’s Society.

Shingles Vaccine Stands Out

The shingles vaccine emerged as the most promising candidate due to its relatively simple administration (requiring only two doses) and established safety profile. Researchers are hopeful about launching a large-scale UK clinical trial utilizing the PROTECT platform, an online registry tracking participants’ health and lifestyle data for brain health research ScienceDaily.

Other Drugs Considered

Five additional medications – fingolimod, vortioxetine, microlithium, dasitinib, and cytisine – were shortlisted but did not meet the criteria to be designated as ‘priority candidates’.

Expert Perspectives

Dr. Anne Corbett, Professor of Dementia Research at the University of Exeter, emphasized the importance of exploring all research avenues, including drug repurposing, to combat dementia University of Exeter. She cautioned that further investigation and robust clinical trials are necessary to determine the true value and effectiveness of these drugs.

Prof Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society, highlighted the potential of drug repurposing, drawing parallels to the successful repurposing of aspirin for heart attack and stroke prevention Alzheimer’s Society.