Now researchers from School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester in New York lead by Dr. Karl Kieburtz, have found that Dimebon may improve thinking, learning and memory skills in people with Huntington's disease an inherited neurodegenerative disorder.
Mitochondria are critical to brain cell functioning as they are the primary source of energy for cells. Drugs that protect mitochondria or restore their function could potentially be a valuable treatment approach in AD and Huntington's disease.
As per the claim by the researchers, the drug stabilizes and improves the function of mitochondria, parts of cells that help convert food into energy. Researchers found that, Dimebon (Latrepirdine) at a dosage of 20 mg three times daily, is well-tolerated for 90 days in patients with Huntington's disease and may have a beneficial effect on cognition. Though further studies are essential to substantiate the claim, its good to see at l(e)ast a drug for Huntington's disease (the only approved therapy for Huntington's is tetrabenazine, which treats movement problems but does not prevent cognitive decline or change the course of the disease).....more...