2 New Alzheimer's Drugs Show Promise in Early Studies

2 New Alzheimer's Drugs Show Promise in Early Studies

Researchers say two new drugs for Alzheimer's disease have shown promise in early experiments and will likely progress to the next round of clinical trials.
One drug, called a BACE inhibitor, has been in development for more than 10 years. In very early tests, it dramatically reduced levels of beta amyloid, a sticky protein that forms plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
The second drug is thought to reduce damaging inflammation. Patients with mild mental impairment who took the drug for over a year saw significant improvements in some measures of memory and thinking.

Link Seen in Age at Retirement and Risk of Alzheimer's (CME/CE)

Link Seen in Age at Retirement and Risk of Alzheimer's (CME/CE)

French retirees who had stopped working relatively late in life were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a researcher reported here.

Analysis of a French healthcare insurer's records indicated that, for each year after age 60 at which a person retired, the risk of subsequently developing Alzheimer's disease was lower by 3.2% (HR 0.968, 95% CI 0.962-0.973), said Carole Dufouil, PhD, of INSERM in Bordeaux, France.

Statin On-Board May Cut Cancer Risk in HIV Infection (CME/CE)

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are on statin therapy are significantly less likely to develop cancer, researchers said here at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention.

In a retrospective analysis, Vincenzo Spagnuolo, MD, a resident in infectious diseases at Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, observed that 363 individuals out of 4617 who were not on statins (7.9%) were diagnosed with cancer compared with 12 of 740 patients on statins (1.3%).

COPD Linked to Insomnia, Hospital Stays

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was associated with increased risks of insomnia symptoms and hospitalizations, researchers reported here.

Based on survey data of noninstitutionalized participants, roughly half of those with COPD had insomnia symptoms (48.1%), twice the rate of those without COPD, according to Maurice Ohayon, MD, PhD, of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

FDA Proposes New Limit for Arsenic in Apple Juice

A new limit on the level of arsenic allowed in apple juice was proposed Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The move comes after a year of pressure from consumer groups concerned about the contaminant's effect on children.

The new standard would limit the amount of arsenic in apple juice to the same maximum level permitted in drinking water, 10 parts per billon, the agency said in a statement. Apple juice containing higher levels of arsenic could be removed from the market and companies could face legal action in those cases.

Gilotrif Approved for Late-Stage Lung Cancer

The drug Gilotrif (afatinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat spreading cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) caused by certain gene mutations, the agency said Friday.

The treatment, given priority FDA review, was sanctioned for tumors that express certain epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, as detected by a newly approved diagnostic, the agency said in a news release.

Health Tip: Get More Bang for Your Beans

Beans are rich in fiber and full of valuable nutrients, while largely void of fat and cholesterol.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests how to add beans to your favorite recipes:

Use black beans in dishes such as Cuban rice and beans, soups, stews and tacos.Use cannellini, or white kidney beans, in your favorite Italian side dishes, casseroles, salads, soups and stews.