Neuropathic Pain Drug May Be Able to Address Alzheimer's

Scientists at the Cleveland Clinic may have discovered a new drug that could be used in the fight against a neurodegenerative form of dementia called Alzheimer's disease. They say that compound MDA7, which is used to treat neuropathic pain, may address the neural disorder as well.

The team, based at the CC Lerner Research Institute and the Anesthesiology Institute, found that the chemical interacts in a positive way with a neural receptor that plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer's.

Neurodegeneration occurs when molecular processes in the brain kill off neurons. In the case of Alzheimer's, this first translates into a loss of memory and impaired cognitive skills. Eventually, the condition is fatal, and there's currently no cure available, PsychCentral reports.

“Development of this compound as a potential drug for Alzheimer’s would take many more years, but this is a promising finding worthy of further investigation,” explains CC anesthesiology professor, Mohamed Naguib, MD.