Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Dr. Mark Loeb, associate professor at McMaster
University in Hamilton, Ontario, presented a study in San Diego
at the meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America that
shows how antibiotics may slow brain damage caused by
Alzheimer’s disease (October 9, 2003). Patients on two
antibiotics, doxycycline and rifampin, for three months had
significantly less loss of mental function than those given
placebos.
Alzheimer’s disease causes progressive loss of mental
function and affects more than 4.5 million North Americans. So
far, the drugs approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer’s disease
are barely more effective than placebos. Several studies
associate Alzheimer’s disease with infections caused by the
bacteria chlamydia and mycoplasma, but the vast majority of
neurologists do not feel that infection causes Alzheimer’s
disease. The author of this study believes that antibiotics may
prevent plaques from forming in nerves. The trial found that
those in the placebo group lost significantly more intellect than
those on antibiotics.
There is no specific test for Alzheimer’s disease, so
doctors make the diagnosis by eliminating other causes of brain
damage. It is reasonable to prescribe antibiotics to Alzheimer’s
disease patients because today no effective medical treatment
exists. The four FDA-approved Alzheimer's drugs, Cognex,
Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl, slow the rate of brain damage only
a little bit and do not stop progression of brain damage.
March 1, 2006