There is continuing controversy as to whether or not anti-leprosy drugs prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, we examined the effect of anti-leprosy drugs on the prevalence of AD in leprosy patients, and also investigated the effect of anti-leprosy drugs on amyloid beta-protein (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study suggests that anti-leprosy treatments do not prevent the onset of AD. None of our data found anti-leprosy drugs (dapsone, rifampicin, clofazimine, minomycin or ofloxacin) had any effect on Abeta neurotoxicity. It is now important to examine the infection of Mycobacterium leprae in the central nervous system to clarify the reason for the low prevalence of senile dementia, and low frequency of Abeta deposition in leprosy patients.
BT - Journal of the neurological sciences C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10426143?dopt=Abstract DA - 1999 May 01 DO - 10.1016/s0022-510x(99)00057-x IS - 1 J2 - J. Neurol. Sci. LA - eng N2 -There is continuing controversy as to whether or not anti-leprosy drugs prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, we examined the effect of anti-leprosy drugs on the prevalence of AD in leprosy patients, and also investigated the effect of anti-leprosy drugs on amyloid beta-protein (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study suggests that anti-leprosy treatments do not prevent the onset of AD. None of our data found anti-leprosy drugs (dapsone, rifampicin, clofazimine, minomycin or ofloxacin) had any effect on Abeta neurotoxicity. It is now important to examine the infection of Mycobacterium leprae in the central nervous system to clarify the reason for the low prevalence of senile dementia, and low frequency of Abeta deposition in leprosy patients.
PY - 1999 SP - 28 EP - 30 T2 - Journal of the neurological sciences TI - No effect of anti-leprosy drugs in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. VL - 165 SN - 0022-510X ER -