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HIV Medications Possibly Provide 'Substantial' Defense Against Alzheimer's

HIV Medications Significantly Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

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Research indicates that HIV medications might hold a protective aspect against Alzheimer's disease....
Research indicates that HIV medications might hold a protective aspect against Alzheimer's disease. (Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images)

HIV Medications Possibly Provide 'Substantial' Defense Against Alzheimer's

Let's talk about some bizarre shit, shall we?

UVA Health scientists are pushing for clinical trials to test whether a class of HIV drugs called nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) could potentially prevent Alzheimer’s disease - yep, you read that right.

Here's the lowdown:

In their study, researchers found that people taking these medications have a significant reduction in the chance of developing Alzheimer's. In one dataset, the risk dropped by 6% annually, while in another, it dropped by a whopping 13% per year. That's some pretty impressive stats, huh?

Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, the boss man behind this research, tells us that folks taking NRTIs saw about a 10% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's for every year they took the drugs.

So, what's the deal with these drugs and Alzheimer's? Well, the team had previously discovered that NRTIs block the activation of inflammasomes, immune system components linked to Alzheimer's development. Since these drugs are used to stop HIV from multiplying in the body, this discovery led them to wonder if people taking NRTIs for other reasons (like treating hepatitis B) might have a lower risk of Alzheimer's.

To find out, the team dug through health records from two major U.S. data sources and found over 270,000 qualifying patients. After accounting for potential stuff that could mess up their results (like existing health conditions), they found that those taking NRTIs had a noticeable decrease in Alzheimer's risk. This decrease was specific to NRTIs and wasn't seen in those using other types of HIV medications.

So, what's next? The team is saying we need clinical trials to see if these drugs can actually help prevent Alzheimer's. If they are, it could be a big deal. With nearly 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s and the number projected to double by 2050, we could use some preventive treatments. And let's not forget about the money – the annual cost of care for Alzheimer's and related dementias is projected to increase from $384 billion today to nearly $1 trillion in the coming decades.

If you're thinking, "Hey, that's crazy - using HIV drugs to prevent Alzheimer's?" Well, researcher James Giordano, PhD, has some words for you: "Inflammasomes are cellular proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer's development. HIV drugs called NRTIs block inflammasomes, so it makes sense that they might help prevent Alzheimer's.”

So, there you have it, folks. HIV drugs that might help prevent Alzheimer's. Who'd have thunk it? Here's to clinical trials and science being fucking wild sometimes.

  1. The system of HIV drugs called nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) is being considered for clinical trials to potentially prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which is a bizarre yet promising development in science and medical-conditions.
  2. Researchers at UVA Health found a significant reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s for individuals taking NRTIs, with an annual decrease of 6% to 13% depending on the dataset.
  3. According to Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, a reduction of 10% in the risk of Alzheimer’s was observed for every year that individuals took NRTIs.
  4. It was found that NRTIs block the activation of inflammasomes, immune system components linked to Alzheimer’s development, offering a potential explanation for the drug's potential benefits in preventing neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
  5. In addition to their use in treating HIV, these therapies and treatments might contribute to the prevention of Alzheimer's and other dementias, a fascinating development in health-and-wellness and neurology.
  6. With nearly 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s and projections indicating the number will double by 2050, any preventive treatments like NRTIs could have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people and the healthcare expenditure related to Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders.
  7. James Giordano, PhD, a researcher, explains that the link between Alzheimer's development and inflammasomes, along with the ability of HIV drugs like NRTIs to block inflammasomes, lends credence to the idea that these drugs might help prevent Alzheimer's and other neurological-disorders.

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