A recent international study suggests that three existing medications could offer
A recent international study suggests that three existing medications could offer unexpected new hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Led by researchers at the University of Exeter, the study analyzed more than 80 commonly used drugs to identify those most likely to prevent or slow the neurodegenerative disease.
The top candidates include the shingles vaccine (Zostavax), sildenafil—better known as Viagra—and riluzole, a medication used to treat motor neuron disease. Among these, the shingles vaccine emerged as the most promising due to its safety profile and evidence linking it to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. Studies indicate that individuals who received the vaccine were 16% less likely to develop the disease.
Repurposing existing drugs offers a major advantage over developing new medications, which can take 10–15 years and cost billions of dollars without guaranteed success. Drugs already proven safe in humans allow for a faster, lower-risk route to potentially life-changing treatments.
The study involved 21 dementia specialists from universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies, along with input from Alzheimer’s patients. Each of the top three drugs was selected for its ability to target biological processes associated with Alzheimer’s and for promising results in laboratory and animal studies.
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