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May 21, 2003
Lithium May Halt Progression of
Alzheimer's Disease in Animal Models Says A University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Study
(Philadelphia, Pa.) -- Lithium has been found to block
the formation of amyloid plaques in the brains of animal
models with a form of Alzheimer's disease, according
to a study conducted by researchers at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The study was led
by Peter Klein, MD, PhD, of Penn's Department of Medicine
and Division of Hematology and Oncology, and Virginia
M.Y. Lee, PhD, of Penn's Center for Neurodegenerative
Disease Research and Professor in the Department of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Other Penn collaborators
on the study included Christopher J. Phiel, PhD and
Christiana A. Wilson, PhD. The findings will appear
in the May 22 issue of Nature.
The current study advances the previous work of Klein
and Lee that showed that lithium blocked the accumulation
of protein deposits that form neurofibrillary tangles.
Alzheimer's disease is associated with the development
of both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
in patients with the disease. It is characterized by
a gradual loss of brain cells leading to dementia. As
it progresses over three to 20 years, the loss of brain
function leads to serious disability and death.
"Our current study, combined with earlier work, shows
that the two processes associated with the progression
of Alzheimer's disease - the build-up of protein deposits
known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
- can be inhibited with lithium," said Klein, who is
also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute.
"Our findings have interesting implications for the
potential use of lithium in preventing or disrupting
the growth of theses plaques and tangles in patients,
since lithium is known to be relatively safe in humans
when administered properly. However, lithium does have
side effects that are more common in older patients.
Our work points to an unexpected target for the development
of new, more specific drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's
disease," added Klein. Lithium is currently used to
treat patients with bipolar disorder, also known as
manic-depression.
While concluding that lithium may prove effective in
preventing or slowing the onset of Alzheimer's disease,
Klein cautioned that much more work needed to be done,
including studies with patients.
The work was funded by grants from the National Institute
of Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging.
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PENN Medicine is a $2.2 billion
enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical
education, biomedical research, and quality patient
care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's
first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania
Health System (created in 1993 as the nation's first
integrated academic health system). Today, Penn's School
of Medicine is ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News
& World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented
medical schools; and ranked #2 in the nation for receipt
of NIH research funds. It supports 1400-fulltime faculty
and 700 students, is recognized worldwide for its superior
education and training of the next generation of physician/scientists
and leaders of academic medicine. Penn's Health System
consists of four wholly-owned hospitals (including its
flagship Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,
rated one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals
by U.S. News & World Report); a faculty practice plan;
a primary-care provider network; three multi-specialty
satellite facilities; and home healthcare, hospice and
long-term care.
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