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New dementia drug trial
Trial of heart drug to treat Alzheimer ’ s .
In a world first , researchers will trial the use of a cardiovascular medication to treat Alzheimer ’ s disease . The study is based on the discovery that probucol , a drug used to manage high cholesterol , may be able to decrease the inflammation of microscopic blood vessels in the brain .
Led by Professor John Mamo from Curtin University in Western Australia , the landmark trial will proceed over the next two years .
“ We ’ ve got a long line of research which has identified that the protein that we see in plaque , in people who have Alzheimer ’ s disease , is also produced in other parts of the body ,” Mamo said
“ We discovered that probucol will profoundly suppress the production of the amyloid in those organs outside of the brain .”
Probucol was phased out by the US Food and Drug Administration in the late 1980s . It is currently unavailable for clinical use in most Western countries .
Dr Mamo says this trial offers a significant opportunity to re-evaluate the drug ’ s efficacy in improving memory function and cognitive performance .
“ Even if you delay the disease by five years , the quality of life delivered back to the person afflicted is enormous .”
This launch comes weeks after the F . D . A approved a controversial new treatment for Alzheimer ’ s . Dr Mamo says the evidence to support the benefits of Aduhelm are ‘ questionable ’.
“ It ’ s not in the context of preventing further accumulation of the plaque material . The damage is already there if you ’ ve got advanced plaque . “ Our approach is remarkably different .” Around 300 Western Australians aged between 18-85 are expected to participate in the study . There are hopes to expand further to the east coast . ■
L ’ amour is in the air
Couples reconnect over fine wines and candlelight .
On a recent Thursday evening seven married couples living in Lifeview ’ s residential aged care home were treated to a night of fine dining and romance . Staff dressed in white shirts and bowties , tables were lit with candles and decorated with roses as the onsite cafe transformed into a Parisian restaurant named L ’ amour .
“ My wife had a smile on her face for two hours ,” said one of the residents , Michael , who married his wife Jenny at the south-west Melbourne facility in 2019 .
Each couple sat at their own table and enjoyed a three-coursemeal prepared by the head chef .
“ When I went in there , it was done up like a bloody night club . I thought I was at the crown casino , it was beautiful ,” said Michael .
The surprise dinner was arranged as part of Lifeview ’ s Magic Moments initiative , which organises special events for residents based on their wishes and interests .
Together with the help of volunteers from Lifeview ’ s other facilities and senior management , the staff delivered five star service all evening , pouring fine wines and playing classic love ballads .
For Lifeview resident June , the opportunity to get dressed up and see everyone in their finest was her favourite part of the evening .
She and her husband Ron will soon celebrate 59 years of marriage . The pair have six children . “ I love everything about him , he drives me crazy ,” she said . For the married residents at Lifeview , navigating life in and out of lockdowns has made having their partners close to them very important .
Lifeview ’ s social support manager Annitta Macauley said the staff were in tears while watching the joy and adoration from each couple that evening .
“ We wanted to give that opportunity to sit together with no one else on the table and reconnect with each other ,” she said .
According to Annitta , allowing space for intimacy and privacy is important when caring for a married couple in residential care . “ You knock before you enter , that ’ s the number one rule whether you ’ re in aged care or at home .” ■
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