A 2012 study suggests cancer drug bexarotene may be useful in treating Alzheimer's. Recent tests on mice have shown improved mental ability after treatment. Bexarotene's effect on the human brain will be studied.
Bexarotene is a so-called orphan drug because so few people use it. Currently, it is only prescribed for
cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which is relatively uncommon.
However, it is too soon to get our hopes up. In the past few years, two
drugs believed to have the potential to aid Alzheimer's patients were
researched. Both Dimebon, an
antihistamine medication, and semagacestat, which was specifically developed
for Alzheimer's, initially showed promise but failed in clinical trials.
