Could A Seizure Medication Also Reduce The Risk Of Alzheimer's?

Could an epilepsy drug also treat Alzheimer's disease? New findings published in the journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy have shown that it may be effective.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia examined the anticonvulsant that showed promise in further prevention of the neurodegenerative brain disorder.

Previous studies have shown the effects of the widely used anticonvulsant levetiracetam in rodent models and to clinical trials in human patients in how the early signs of Alzheimer's helped to slow the symptoms of memory loss.

For the current study, researchers tested the effects of brivaracetam, an anticonvulsant that's still in the clinical development for epilepsy and that's closely related to the aforementioned medication. Since it's 10 times more potent than levetiracetam, however, it can be used in lower dosages.

Researchers found that when used in rodent models, brivaracetam was successful in eliminating memory loss.

"Now we have many different research groups using antiepileptic drugs that engage the same target, and all point to a therapeutic effect in both Alzheimer's disease models, and patients with the disease," said lead study author Dr. Haakon Nygaard, the Fipke Professor in Alzheimer's, in a news release. "Both of these drugs are likely to be tested in larger clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease over the next five to 10 years."

However, Nygaard added that human subjects would be needed before researchers could determine whether anticonvulsant therapy could be used in future treatment against Alzheimer's.