08/01/2025
Researchers just found two meds that reversed Alzheimer’s brain changes in mice.
Both drugs are already FDA-approved, potentially speeding their path toward human clinical trials.
Letrozole, typically used for breast cancer, and irinotecan, commonly prescribed for colon and lung cancer, were found to significantly reduce toxic tau protein build-up and improve memory and learning in Alzheimer’s mouse models.
The discovery, led by researchers at UCSF and Gladstone Institutes, began with a computational analysis of gene expression changes in Alzheimer’s patients.
By matching those patterns with existing drug profiles in the Connectivity Map database and analyzing cancer patient records, researchers spotted an unexpected protective effect. Letrozole targeted damaged neurons, while irinotecan acted on glial cells—together offering a multi-pronged strategy against the disease. While side effects and further testing remain key hurdles, this innovative, data-driven approach could lead to faster, personalized Alzheimer’s treatments, offering hope to the 55 million people affected worldwide.
source
L. Yaqiao et al. Cell. July 2025. "Cell-type-directed network-correcting combination therapy for Alzheimer’s disease"
