Drug May Halt Alzheimer's

Finally, there is hope on the horizon. An experimental drug may halt Alzheimer's disease, Singapore-based TauRx Therapeutics announced last week at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago. Called Rember, the drug takes a new approach to treating Alzheimer's by breaking up the protein tangles that clog victims' brains. It's the first good news in a field battered by recent setbacks.

"These are the first very positive results I've seen" for stopping mental decline, said Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, director of Alzheimer's research at the National Institute on Aging. "It's just fantastic."

Much testing is still to be done before the drug can be offered to patients. It is currently in the second of three developmental phases. Tests on human patients suggest that Rember can dissolve the tau protein tangles that destroy memory. Four Alzheimer's drugs are currently available to ease symptoms, but this is the first drug that shows promise of actually halting progression of the disease.

In a 19-month study of 321 patients, people taking a placebo lost an average 7% of their brain function in the first 6 months and continued to decline for the length of the study. People who took a moderate dose of Rember showed absolutely no decline at all over the entire 19-month study period.

The main chemical in Rember -- methylene blue -- is currently available in a different formulation as a prescription drug used to treat chronic bladder infections. Available since the 1930s, methlene blue predates formation of the Food & Drug Administration and has never been tested for safety or effectiveness.

Additional research is critically needed to combat Alzheimer's Disease. The illness afflicts more than 26 million people worldwide and is expected to reach epidemic proportions as the Baby Boomer generation ages. I have long been a supporter of the Alzheimer's Association and will participate in my 7th Memory Walk on Saturday, September 6. Last year I raised $2000 for Alzheimer's research. This year my goal is to raise $2500. I hope you'll support me by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Alzheimer's Association. Any size contribution will be appreciated. Here's how you can contribute:

• Send a check payable to Alzheimer's Association to:
  AM Warner Insurance, 4704 Miles Lane, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40219
• Donate online at http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org/
  Click on Find a Walker, enter Allison Warner and click Search
  Scroll down to my name and click on it, then follow the prompts.
  If you have any problems, please call me at 502-742-4979 and I'll walk you through it.

Thanks in advance for your support. I love to have you join me on the 1 mile walk in September. The day is always sunny and we have a great time. Watch this space for more details later in the month.