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There is no drug that slows the pace of dementia
Scientists hope they have found a drug to stop all neurodegenerativebrain diseases, including dementia.
In 2013, a UK Medical Research Council team stopped brain cells dying in an animalfor the first time, creating headline news around the world.
But the compoundused was unsuitable for people, as it caused organ damage.
Now two drugs have been found that should have the same protective effect on the brain and are already safely used in people.
"It's really exciting," said Prof Giovanna Mallucci, from the MRC ToxicologyUnit in Leicester.
She wants to start human clinicaltrialson dementia patients soon and expects to know whether the drugs work within two to three years.
neurodegenerative
英[?nju:r??d?'d?en?r?t?v]
美[?nju:ro?d?'d?en?r?t?v]
adj. 神经组织退化精力英语的;
dementia 英[d??men??] 美[d??m?n??]
n. [医] 痴呆;
compound 英[?k?mpa?nd] 美[?kɑ:mpa?nd]
n. 复合物; 场地; （筑有围墙精力英语的） 院子; 复合词;
toxicology
英[?t?ks??k?l?d?i] 美[?tɑ:ks??k?l?d?i] n. 毒理学精力英语，毒物学;
clinical 英[?kl?n?kl] 美[?kl?n?k?l]
adj. 临床的; 诊所的; 冷静的; 简陋的;
trial 英[?tra??l] 美[?tra??l, tra?l]
n. 试验; [法] 审讯精力英语，审判; 磨难精力英语，困难; [体] 选拔赛;
adj. 试验的; [法] 审讯的;
Why might they work?
The novel approach is focused on the natural defence mechanismsbuilt into brain cells.
When a virus hijacksa brain cell it leads to a build-up of viral proteins.
Cells respond by shutting down nearly all protein production in order to haltthe virus's spread.
Many neurodegenerative diseases involve the production of faulty proteins that activate the same defences, but with more severe consequences.
The brain cells shut down production for so long that they eventually starve themselves to death.
This process, repeated in neuronsthroughout the brain, can destroy movement, memory or even kill, depending on the disease.
It is thought to take place in many forms of neurodegeneration, so safely disruptingit could treat a wide range of diseases.
In the initial study, the researchers used a compound that prevented the defence mechanism kicking in.
It halted the progress of priondisease in mice - the first time any neurodegenerative disease had been halted in any animal.
Further studies showed the approach could halt a range of degenerativediseases.
The findings were described as a "turning point" for the field even though the compound was toxic to the pancreas.
mechanism 英[?mek?n?z?m] 美[?m?k??n?z?m]
n. [生]机制，机能，[乐] 机理; （机械） 结构，机械装置[作用]，（故事的）结构; [艺] 手法，技巧，途径; 机械作用;
hijack 英[?ha?d?æk] 美[?ha??d?æk]
vt. 劫持; 绑架; 拦路抢劫; 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）;
viral proteins
网络 病毒蛋白质类; 病毒蛋白;
halt 英[h?:lt] 美[h?lt]
vt. 阻止; 使停止; 使中断; 使立定;
severe 英[s??v??(r)] 美[s??v?r]
adj. 严峻的; 严厉的; 剧烈的; 苛刻的;
consequence 英[?k?ns?kw?ns] 美[?kɑ:ns?kwens]
n. 推论; 结果，成果; [逻] 结论; 重要性;
neuron 英[?nj??r?n] 美[?n?rɑ:n]
n. 神经元; 神经细胞;
disrupt 英[d?s?r?pt] 美[d?s?r?pt]
vt. 破坏; 使混乱; 使分裂，使瓦解; 使中断;
prion 英[?pri:?n] 美[?pri:ɑ:n]
n. 感染性蛋白质
degenerative
英[d??d?en?r?t?v] 美[d??d??n?r?t?v]
adj. 退步的，变质的，退化的;
pancreas 英[?pæ?kri?s] 美[?pæ?kri?s, ?pæn-]
n. <解剖>胰，胰腺;
Neurodegeneration
A neurodegenerative disease is one in which the cells of the brain and spinal cordare lost
The functions of these cells include decision making and control of movements
These cells are not easily regenerated, so the effects of diseases can bedevastating
Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's
Source: London Brain Centre
spinal cord 英[?spa?n?l k?:d] 美[?spa?n?l k?rd]
n. 脊髓;
devastate 英[?dev?ste?t] 美[?d?v??stet]
vt. 毁灭; 破坏; 蹂躏; 使荒废;
multiple sclerosis
英[?m?ltipl skl??r??s?s]
美[?m?lt?p?l skl??ros?s]
n. [医] 多发性硬化;
Safe drugs?
Since 2013, the research group has tested more than 1,000 ready-madedrugs onnematode worms, human cells in a dish and mice.
Two were shown to prevent both a form of dementia and prion disease by stopping brain cells dying.
Prof Mallucci told the BBC News website: "Both were very highly protective and prevented memory deficits, paralysisand dysfunctionof brain cells."
The best known drug of the pair is trazodone, which is already taken by patients with depression.
The other, DBM, is being tested in cancer patients.
Prof Mallucci said: "It's time for clinical trials to see if there's similar effects in people and put our money where our mouth is.
"We're very unlikely to cure them completely, but if you arrest the progression you change Alzheimer's disease into something completely different so it becomes liveable with."
But, although trazodone is a current medication, she added: "As a professional, a doctor and a scientists, I must advise people to wait for the results."
ready-made 英[?redi:?me?d] 美[?r?di?med]
adj. 现成的; 做好的; 事前已想好了的;
n. 已做好的东西;
nematode worms
线虫
deficit 英[?def?s?t] 美[?d?f?s?t]
n. 赤字; 亏损; 亏空; 不足额;
paralysis 英[p??ræl?s?s] 美[p??ræl?s?s]
n. 麻痹，瘫痪; 中风; 无能，无气力;
dysfunction 英[d?s'f??k?n] 美[d?s?f??k??n]
n. 机能障碍，机能失调;
trazodone 英[tr?z?'d?n] 美[tr?z?'d?n]
[词典] [化] 曲唑酮，氯哌三唑酮;
What do the experts think?
Dr Doug Brown, from the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We're excited by the potential of these findings, from this well conducted and robust study.
"As one of the drugs is already available as a treatment for depression, the time taken to get from the lab to the pharmacy could be dramatically reduced."
Dr David Dexter, from Parkinson's UK, said: "This is a very robust and important study.
"If these studies were replicatedin human clinical trials, both trazodone and DBM could represent a major step forward."
robust 英[r???b?st] 美[ro??b?st]
adj. 精力充沛的; 坚定的; 粗野的，粗鲁的; 需要体力的;
replicate 英[?repl?ke?t] 美[?r?pl??ket]
vt. 复制，复写; 重复，反复; 折转; [生] 复制;
