Drugs commonly used to treat enlarged prostate symptoms might also decrease the risk of a particular type of dementia, a study suggests.
Researchers have discovered a link between common prostate medication and a lowered risk of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
DLB accounts for around one in 10 of all dementia cases in the UK – the equivalent of around 100,000 people – and is caused by clumps of protein in the cells of the brain.
It is the form of the condition that comedian Robin Williams suffered from before his suicide in 2014.
Now, experts believe these ‘promising’ medicines may help slow its progression – or even prevent the disease altogether.
A team from the University of Iowa analysed data on 643,000 men who were newly starting one of six drugs to treat an enlarged prostate.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the form of the condition that comedian Robin Williams suffered from before his suicide in 2014. Here he is pictured at the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards in 2009
Three of the drugs – terazosin (Tz), doxazosin (Dz) and alfuzosin (Az) – are already known to boost energy production in brain cells.
Previous studies suggest that this ability may help slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
The other three drugs – tamsulosin and two 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors – do not enhance energy production in the brain.
Participants were followed for around three years and the team found that those who were taking the Tz, Dz or Az drugs were less likely to develop dementia with Lewy bodies.
Lead author Jacob Simmering said: ‘Diseases like dementia with Lewy bodies, or Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease, are debilitating and we don’t really have any good treatments that can modify the disease progression.
‘We can treat symptoms, but we can’t actually slow the disease.
‘We found that men who took Tz/Dz/Az drugs were less likely to develop a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.
‘Overall, men taking [these] medications had about a 40 per cent lower risk of developing a DLB diagnosis compared to men taking tamsulosin and about a 37 per cent reduction in risk compared to men taking 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.’
The team said they are excited by the potential of these drugs, which have already been approved, are inexpensive and have been used safely for decades.
‘If terazosin and these similar medications can help slow this progression – if not outright preventing the disease – this would be important to preserving cognitive function and quality of life in people with dementia with Lewy bodies,’ Dr Simmering added.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common disease that causes dementia, behind Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Symptoms can include visual hallucinations, trouble with sleep, problems with thinking speed and language, and slow movement.
Commenting on the findings Dr Julia Dudley, head of research strategy at Alzheimer’s Research UK said it was ‘encouraging to see large studies exploring whether drugs already licensed for other medical conditions could have a protective effect for the diseases that cause dementia’.
But they can also be a sign of dementia — the memory-robbing condition plaguing nearly 1million Brits and 7million Americans
She added: ‘As these drugs have already been shown to be safe for use in people, this could potentially speed up the process of testing in clinical trials.
‘It is important to note, however, that this study only looked at whether people developed DLB or not, and future trials would be needed to confirm a causal link between the drug and progression of the disease.
‘The study also only included male participants, despite females using the same drugs to treat urinary symptoms, highlighting the need for future research to include wider groups of people.’
The findings were published in the journal Neurology.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.
In the US, it’s estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer’s sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.
Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
Currently there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
