‘Cheap’ Vitamin B3 in new Alzheimer’s trial

A vitamin pill – B3 – that could slow the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, is to be given to 70 people, who have been recently diagnosed with the disease, and who will be involved in a six month Californian trial in the New Year.

Scientists at the University of California have already tested a form of vitamin B3, called nicotinamide, on mice that had been genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s.

Leading researcher, Dr Kim Green, said the mice’s memories were tested by checking how well they remembered the location of a platform set in a large water tank.

“The vitamin completely prevented cognitive decline associated with the disease, bringing them back to the level they’d be at if they didn’t have the pathology.

“It actually improved behaviour in non-demented animals too,” Dr Green said.

The results, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, encouraged the scientists to plan the human trial.

Dr Green said that “at the moment we’re talking about a disease for which there is no sort of treatment, and this is likely to be far safer than any of the upcoming drugs.

“Nicotinamide is just vitamin B3. It’s really cheap, it’s safe, and easy to get hold of,” he said.