Glaucoma Drug Shows Promise in Combating Alzheimer's and Dementia

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that methazolamide, a common glaucoma medication, may help reduce harmful tau protein buildup in the brain.

• The study utilized zebrafish and mice models to screen 1,437 clinically approved drugs for their ability to clear tau protein clumps associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
• Methazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, was found to significantly reduce tau protein levels and improve cognitive function in animal models.
• The drug works by activating lysosomes, the cell's waste disposal system, to expel tau proteins, potentially slowing neurodegeneration.
• Due to its existing approval for glaucoma, methazolamide could advance to clinical trials faster than new drugs, offering hope for Alzheimer's and other tauopathies.
• Researchers plan to further explore methazolamide's effects on other neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's and Parkinson's.

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