Existing drugs for HIV are Alzheimer’s diseaseAccording to researchers.
NRTIS (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) is an antiviral agent approved for treatment HIV infectionHowever, scientists at UVA Health at the University of Virginia have found that patients taking them are less likely to develop the common form of dementia.
According to Reed’s study author, Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati (MD), a professor of ophthalmology at UVA, Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in people taking these drugs annually.
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After discovering another mechanism that could prevent Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers analyzed 24 years of health insurance data, including 270,000 patients.
The reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease in patients taking NRTIS was “significantly significantly higher,” the researchers wrote in a survey published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
Researchers say existing drugs for HIV could double as a preventive therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. (istock)
Currently, the UVA team is seeking clinical trials for NRTIs for use in the treatment of Alzheimer.
Approximately 10 million people have been diagnosed worldwide Common dementia Every year.
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“This level of protection can lead to 60,000 fewer cases of Alzheimer’s disease each year in our country, with up to 1 million cases each year around the world,” Ambaty told Fox News Digital.
In addition to maintaining HIV virus From replication, NRTIs also prevent the activation of inflammasomes, a protein involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This level of protection can lead to 60,000 fewer cases of Alzheimer’s disease each year in our country, with up to 1 million cases each year around the world,” the lead study author told Fox News Digital. (istock)
“We had previously shown that NRTI blocked the inflammasome, so it was not surprising that people taking NRTI may be protecting against the disease,” Ambati said.
“However, the level of protection against Alzheimer’s disease has been incredible.”
“There’s a very good chance that this drug will help prevent Alzheimer’s.”
Dr. Mark Siegela senior medical analyst professor of clinical medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.
“Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that cause the release of inflammatory cytokines,” he told Fox News Digital. “HIV uses these inflammasomes to combat the immune system.”

Reusing existing drugs could provide a “promising route,” according to experts from the Alzheimer’s Disease Association. (istock)
“These chemicals may be responsible for worsening Alzheimer’s disease or accelerate the process. Cognitive decline Based on neuroinflammation. ”
Dr. Rebecca Edelmeyer, vice president of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Disease Association in Chicago, reviewed the findings of a study she called “interesting.”
“I’m a neurologist – this is why dementia is rising and how to reduce the risk.”
“While further research and specifically designed clinical trials are needed to fully understand the potential future use of NRTIs to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the study highlights the potential role that drug reuse can play in advance of treatment for new Alzheimer’s disease,” she told Fox News Digital.
Reusing existing drugs can provide a “promising route,” according to Edelmayer. She added that research could be faster and cheaper than new treatments, as existing drug safety and side effects are often already known.
Potential limitations and next steps
The research team acknowledged some limitations on the study.
“Like every retrospective exhibition Health insurance Database studies, the results of our study are linked to this class of drugs and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” Ambati told Fox News Digital.
“They don’t necessarily provide cause and effect, but the fact that they found this link in multiple databases increases the reliability of this result.”
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Siegel agreed that the new study was observational, but noted that it has been going on for many years.
“And only this particular HIV drug, inflammasome, shows that it dramatically reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, rather than other HIV drugs containing protease inhibitors,” the doctor said.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, around 7 million people in the United States currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, and by 2050, that number is expected to reach 13 million. (istock)
“I think this is to persuade preliminary evidence that guarantees. Further research“Siegel added.
In the future, researchers have developed a new drug called K9. Like nrtis, New medicine According to Ambati, it blocks inflammasomes, but is “safeter and more effective.”
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“The fact that new drugs reversed memory loss and improved spatial learning in mice further boosts our confidence in our findings,” he told Fox News Digital.
The UVA team is currently planning to test K9 in clinical trials for Azheimer’s disease.

The study authors warned that people should not take NRTIs because of Alzheimer’s disease unless they fall into the context of clinical trials. (istock)
Ambaty pointed out that people should not take NRTIs because of Alzheimer’s. Clinical trials.
“If they are interested, they should keep an eye on such trials for themselves and for those they love who may be affected,” he advised.
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According to the Alzheimer’s Association, around 7 million people in the United States currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, and by 2050, that number is expected to reach 13 million.
The UVA survey was partially funded by the UVA Strategic Investment Fund and the National Institutes of Health.
