Only 3p – the cost of pill that could beat Alzheimer’s

A PAINKILLER that costs less than 3p a pill has completely reversed symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Mefenamic acid, which is normally used to treat period pain, rapidly restored memory to mice with a dementia-like illness.

The ‘unbelievable’ result paves the way for human trials and raises hopes of an effective drug for a disease that affects more than 90,000 Scots.

Importantly, it would hit the market much more quickly than a brand new medicine – and have a lower price tag.

This should make it accessible to an ageing population and a cash-strapped NHS.

The breakthrough raises the prospect of a treatment for the devastating disease costing as little as 3p a day.

The Manchester University scientists behind the breakthrough said the research is still at an early stage but added that they were cautiously optimistic.

Mefenamic acid, which is also known as Ponstan, is prescribed for period pain and arthritis and is also given after operations. It is part of the same family of painkillers as ibuprofen and eases pain by calming inflammation.

With recent research pointing to inflammation in the brain being important in Alzheimer’s, the scientists decided to see if the painkillers would help. Ibuprofen did not work but mefenamic acid produced remarkable results in tests on mice.

When animals genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s-like memory loss were given the drug for a month, recall was restored to normal. In other words, the memory was as good in these animals as in healthy creatures of the same age. Further tests showed brain inflammation has been eased.

Researcher David Brough, from Inverness, said: ‘We couldn’t believe it had worked quite so well.’

In Scotland, there are approximately 59,400 women and 31,200 men living with Alzheimer’s. More than 3,000 of these are under the age of 65. The Manchester team hope to test the drug on a small number of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s next year.

Further trials, on hundreds or thousands of people, will be needed to prove mefenamic acid to be safe and effective for Alzheimer’s.

However, the drug could be widely taken by Alzheimer’s patients in ten years. It is thought the drug will work best when given early, with possibilities including giving it to patients with slight memory lapses that often, but not always, develop into full-blown dementia.

Dr Brough said: ‘We are very excited by this result. However, much more work needs to be done until we can say with certainty that it will tackle the disease in humans, as mouse models don’t always faithfully replicate the human disease.’

He added that Alzheimer’s patients should not selfmedicate with the drug.

Dr Doug Brown, of the Alzheimer’s Society, which partfunded the research, said: ‘Testing drugs already in use for other conditions is a priority – it could allow us to shortcut the 15 years or so needed to develop a dementia drug from scratch.

‘These promising lab results identify a class of existing drugs that have potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease by blocking a particular part of the immune response.

‘However, these drugs are not without side-effects and should not be taken for Alzheimer’s disease at this stage – studies in people are needed first.’

Dr Rosa Sancho, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, which also helped fund the study, said: ‘Drugs that act against the immune system have real potential to limit damage in Alzheimer’s.’

‘Very excited by this result’