New drug improves memory, UCI says

UC Irvine scientists have discovered a drug that can help restore memory in mice exhibiting the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug, called PMX205, is similar to one used in clinical trials to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

In the UCI study, scientists added PMX205 to the drinking water of mice that had been genetically altered to develop age-related Alzheimer’s-like symptoms.

The scientists then gave the treated mice learning and memory tests and examined their brains for evidence of the disease. In all but one case, the treated Alzheimer’s mice performed almost as well as normal mice.

The scientists’ findings are reported in today’s of the Journal of Immunology.

— Brianna Bailey