Alzheimer's Disease Health Center
Valproic Acid May Treat Alzheimer's
Oct. 27, 2008 -- Valproic acid, an epilepsy drug also used to treat bipolar disorder, may have benefits against Alzheimer's disease if given before Alzheimer's gets severe, a new study shows.
Researchers report that mice genetically at risk for Alzheimer's disease develop less brain plaque (a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease) if they're given valproic acid.
And when those mice got valproic acid early enough, their memories didn't suffer as much as other at-risk mice that didn't get valproic acid.
The researchers -- who included Hong Qing, MD, PhD, of Canada's University of British Columbia in Vancouver -- didn't test valproic acid in people, but they speculate that valproic acid "might show significant improvements in early or mild Alzheimer's disease patients," but not in late or severe cases.
Qing's team notes that other researchers have tested valproic acid in Alzheimer's patients, but only to see if it's tolerable (it is) and if it curbed agitation and aggression (it didn't), not to see how it affects brain plaque or mental skills.
The study appears in today's edition of The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
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Important Safety Information
Vimpat (lacosamide) is a medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older with epilepsy. Vimpat is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your doctor if Vimpat is right for you. Antiepileptic drugs, including Vimpat, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self harm that you have never had before or may be worse than before. Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide at the end of the full prescribing information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment. Please see additional Patient Safety Information
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