UK clinical trial tests repurposed diabetes and ADHD drugs for Alzheimer disease

Researchers in the UK have launched a clinical trial to test multiple repurposed drugs simultaneously on people with Alzheimer disease, the BBC, The Times, and the Daily Mail reported. The study, named AD-SMART, aims to speed up the process of finding new treatments for the condition. It is starting with two medicines already used to treat type 2 diabetes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. [1][2][3][4]

The BBC reported that 67-year-old Angela Bucksey from Cambridgeshire is the first person to begin treatment on the trial. The Daily Mail reported that hundreds of patients will take part in the study. According to the BBC, researchers are examining whether the repurposed drugs can lessen memory and thinking problems and help participants maintain their quality of life. [1][4]

Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative condition that serves as the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60% to 70% of cases. Symptoms include difficulty remembering recent events, language problems, disorientation, and mood swings. Diabetes is a group of endocrine diseases marked by high blood sugar levels, while ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention and impulsivity. [5][6][7]

As FTMQ Health reported earlier, researchers have previously examined ways to repurpose existing drugs for neurological conditions, including studies on reducing brain inflammation to treat Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. Scientists hope that testing multiple existing medicines at the same time in the new trial could cut years from the search for effective Alzheimer treatments, according to the BBC. [1][8]