Candesartan potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease

New research from Georgetown University (DC, USA), published recently in Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, has highlighted the potential efficacy of candesartan and some other FDA-approved angiotensin receptor blockers for the early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Utilizing neuronal cultures, researchers led by senior author Juan Saavedra (Georgetown University) investigated the action of candesartan, currently approved for the treatment of high blood pressure, on the neurotoxic effects of exposure to excessive glutamate – a known injury factor in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, candesartan was shown to avert glutamate-induced neuronal death and genetic analyses indicated that the drug also prevented...