Will a ‘milkshake’ a day keep Alzheimer’s away?
An experimental drug called Ketasyn, taken in milkshake-form, has the attention of US researchers who believe a daily dose of this concoction may feed starving brain cells and act as an effective therapy in dealing with the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ketasyn was among a number of therapies which were discussed at an international meeting in Washington on the mind-robbing disease.
“We see this as a co-therapy rather than a way to defeat Alzheimer’s,” said Dr Lauren Constantini, whose company, Accera Inc., is developing the milkshake-consistency drug Ketasyn.
At this point, researchers say they have found that drinking Ketasyn at breakfast somehow acts to feed brain cells in Alzheimer’s sufferers. These brain cells are often “starved” in victims as the disease progresses.
Ketasyn’s approach differed from the path followed by other Alzheimer’s research to date. Most other scientists pinned their hopes on drugs that would prevent a buildup of beta-amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer’s victims, while Ketasyn looks to provide energy to better deal with the disease’s ravages.
