Latest news with #LawsonResearchInstitute
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Parkinson's disease: Common cough syrup revealed to slow down cognitive decline and dementia
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive and complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. It is narked not only by motor symptoms – such as tremors, stiffness, and bradykinesia – but also by cognitive decline. PD is also characterized by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger crucial for smooth and coordinated muscle movements. This loss of dopamine leads to a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. Moreover, up to half of people with PD develop Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) within a decade, with symptoms ranging from memory loss and confusion to hallucinations and mood disturbances. Recently, a groundbreaking phase 2 clinical trial has revealed that a common cough medicine can stabilize psychiatric symptoms and potentially slow cognitive decline in PDD patients. Read on to know more. The recent discovery According to a clinical trial, Ambroxol, a common cough medicine (used in Europe), has shown promise in slowing cognitive decline in people with Parkinson's disease dementia. A 12-month study conducted by researchers at Lawson Research Institute found that Ambroxol helped stabilise psychiatric symptoms, improved cognitive function, and protected against brain damage in genetically at-risk participants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Usinas a gás: chave na transição energética Siemens Energy Leia mais Undo The study published in JAMA Neurology compared the outcome of the expectorant Ambroxol with a placebo among participants with Parkinson's disease dementia. While primary and secondary outcomes were similar, participants on the placebo experienced worsening neuropsychiatric symptoms compared to symptoms remaining the same in the intervention group. The results also showed a possible improvement in cognitive symptoms for people with variants of a particular gene. Understanding Parkinson's Dementia Parkinson's disease dementia is a progressive condition superimposed on the classic movement symptoms of PD. It typically manifests in the later stages of the disease and includes cognitive impairment – memory lapses, executive dysfunction, visual hallucinations, and mood disturbances like depression or apathy. Approximately 153,000 people in the UK live with PD. There is currently no cure for PDD, but patients can take medications called cholinesterase inhibitors to help manage symptoms. Existing treatments, such as cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., rivastigmine, donepezil) and memantine, may provide some symptomatic relief but fail to halt or alter the underlying neurodegeneration. Ambroxol: From cough syrup to neuroprotection Ambroxol has been widely used in Europe for decades as a mucoactive agent – it helps clear phlegm and has an excellent safety profile. Its potential in neurodegenerative disease stems from its ability to enhance glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity, a key enzyme encoded by the GBA1 gene. Reduced GCase activity leads to the build-up of alpha-synuclein, a hallmark of PD and PDD. By enhancing GCase, Ambroxol may promote the clearance of pathological proteins and reduce brain cell damage. Key findings from the phase 2 trial Researchers at Lawson Research Institute conducted a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 55 PDD patients, administering high-dose Ambroxol (525–1,050 mg/day). The major outcomes included: Symptom stabilization: Placebo participants experienced significant worsening in neuropsychiatric measures, while those on Ambroxol remained stable. Brain injury marker (GFAP): Serum GFAP – a biomarker of neuronal damage – increased in the placebo group but remained stable with Ambroxol, implying neuroprotective action. Cognitive improvement in high-risk individuals: Patients harboring GBA1 risk variants exhibited noticeable cognitive gains. Safety and tolerance: Ambroxol was generally well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects noted. One detailed report noted that high-dose Ambroxol recipients showed improved Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores by approximately 2 points, while placebo subjects declined. Limitations and the way ahead While findings are promising, they come from a small, single-center Phase 2 trial with limited diversity and may not be fully statistically conclusive. Certain dose‑response relationships remain unclear, and the subset of GBA1 carriers was small – about eight participants. Researchers are planning larger Phase 3 clinical trials in 2025 to specifically evaluate cognitive outcomes and determine optimal dosing strategies. The parting thought Ambroxol's success could inspire wider interest in repurposing safe, existing medications for neurodegenerative disorders. It also supports the hypothesis that enhancing GCase activity may combat alpha-synuclein pathologies – a concept applicable to Parkinson's, dementia with Lewy bodies, and potentially Gaucher disease. Moreover, this study draws attention to the value of targeted precision medicine – showing particular promise in patients with genetic risk factors (e.g., GBA1 variants). This could pave the way for more personalized neurotherapy approaches Study: Slower memory decline in older adults linked to healthy lifestyle
Gizmodo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
This Cough Syrup Ingredient Might Actually Slow Dementia
Today's cough syrup could turn into tomorrow's treatment for Parkinson's disease. Recent research in the U.K. is the latest to suggest that a common ingredient in cough syrup, ambroxol, might be able to slow down the progression of Parkinson's. Scientists at St. Joseph's Health Care London conducted the year-long small study, which involved 55 patients with Parkinson's-related dementia. The drug was safely tolerated and may have stabilized people's symptoms, particularly people more genetically vulnerable to the neurodegenerative disease. Researchers elsewhere have already begun to test ambroxol for Parkinson's and related dementias in larger trials. 'These findings suggest Ambroxol may protect brain function, especially in those genetically at risk. It offers a promising new treatment avenue where few currently exist,' said study author Stephen Pasternak, a cognitive neuroscientist at Lawson Research Institute, the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, in a statement from the university. The Surprising Connection Between Living Near Golf Courses and Parkinson's Disease Ambroxol is commonly used as an expectorant in cough syrup, helping thin out mucus so people with respiratory illnesses can clear phlegm from their airways and breathe easier. But recently, scientists have speculated that it can also target a key driver of Parkinson's, the accumulation of abnormal alpha-synuclein in the brain. Studies have found that ambroxol can raise people's levels of glucocerebrosidase (GCase), another protein that helps regulate the brain's waste clearance system. In people with Parkinson's, levels of GCase tend to decline as levels of abnormal alpha-synuclein rise. It's also known that people with certain genetic mutations affecting GCase function are at higher risk for Parkinson's. Scientists have hoped that ambroxol can indirectly lower people's alpha-synuclein by increasing GCase, reversing or at least slowing down the progression of Parkinson's. The researchers randomized people with Parkinson's-related dementia to either receive a placebo or a high dose of ambroxol (taken via pills daily) over a 12-month span. There were no severe symptoms linked to the drug's use, the researchers found, and common adverse effects were typically gastrointestinal. People on placebo also experienced worsening psychiatric symptoms of their Parkinson's and an increase in levels of GFAP (a blood marker of brain damage), whereas those on ambroxol appeared to stay about the same. 'This early trial offers hope and provides a strong foundation for larger studies,' Pasternak said. The team's results, published late last month in JAMA Neurology, were not a clear home run, however. There was overall no difference in cognition between the placebo and treatment groups, for instance. People with GCase-related genetic mutations taking the drug may have experienced improved cognition, though the sample sizes were too small to know for sure. Scientists Are Testing an Old Cough Medicine as a Parkinson's Disease Treatment That said, enough evidence has built up that other scientists are taking a chance on ambroxol. There are at least three clinical trials of the drug for Parkinson's and similar conditions linked to GCase underway right now. The largest of these trials is testing ambroxol in over 300 people with Parkinson's over a two-year span. It will take years for these studies to wrap up, but if successful, ambroxol could very well become the first treatment able to slow down the destruction caused by Parkinson's.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Common cough medicine could help protect against a form of dementia, new study finds
A COMMON cough medicine could help protect people with Parkinson's against dementia. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson's, a progressive brain disease that affects movement - but they're also more likely to develop certain forms of dementia. 1 Some people start to have problems with thinking, memory and perception. In fact, about a third with Parkinson's eventually develop dementia, according Alzheimer's Society. Now, researchers at Lawson Research Institute are investigating whether Ambroxol - a cough medicine used safely for decades in Europe - can slow dementia in people with Parkinson's disease. Lead author Dr Stephen Pasternak, a cognitive neurologist, said: "Our goal was to change the course of Parkinson's dementia. "This early trial offers hope and provides a strong foundation for larger studies." Ambroxol is an over-the-counter medicine that breaks up phlegm, making it easier to cough "with an excellent safety record", according to researchers. But it isn't currently approved in the UK, researchers said. The study - published in JAMA Neurology - involved 55 people over the age of 50, who'd had Parkinson's disease for at least a year before developing mild to moderate dementia. They were either given a daily dose of Ambroxol - 525mg or 1,050mg a day - or a placebo. Researchers assessed their memory, psychiatric symptoms, and the blood marker GFAP linked to brain damage. I saw a subtle change in my husband's run but never expected brain diagnosis They found that the drug was safe and well-tolerated among participants. Dementia symptoms worsened in the placebo group, they remained stable in those taking Ambroxol, scientists said. 'Individuals receiving placebo showed a clinically meaningful worsening in neuropsychiatric symptoms, whereas those receiving ambroxol remained stable,' researchers wrote. Ambroxol boosts levels of an enzyme called GCase, which is known to help clear away waste products which have gathered in brain cells. In Parkinson's, a build up of a troublesome protein called alpha-synuclein is often seen in the brain tissue. It's thought that ambroxol may help improve the body's ability to clear away these clumps of alpha-synuclein and prevent damage to brain cells. Participants with high risk variants of a key gene linked to dementia - called GBA1 - showed improved cognitive performance on Ambroxol, researchers added. Markers of brain cell damage, GFAP, also increased in the placebo group but stayed stable in those taking Ambroxol. This suggested the cough medicine may have the potential to protect the brain from Parkinson's-related decline. 'Ambroxol was safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated target engagement,' scientists wrote, however adding that the drug's clinical effect on cognition was 'not confirmed' in the study. Dr Pasternak said: "Current therapies for Parkinson's disease and dementia address symptoms but do not stop the underlying disease. "These findings suggest Ambroxol may protect brain function, especially in those genetically at risk. It offers a promising new treatment avenue where few currently exist." Scientists hope the study's findings could pave the way for larger clinical trials that test the effectiveness of Ambroxol in slowing dementia symptoms. Dr Pasternak is now is now looking into whether boosting GCase with Ambroxol could help protect the brain in Parkinson's-related diseases. "This research is vital because Parkinson's dementia profoundly affects patients and families," he said. "If a drug like Ambroxol can help, it could offer real hope and improve lives." Ambroxol was first explored as a possible Parkinson's treatment in 2009. A trial supported by Parkinson's UK that's currently taking place will observe 330 people with Parkinson's as they take ambroxol - a placebo drug - over two yeas, to see if it is beneficial in the long-term.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors expose TikTok's mouth taping fad as unproven, risky, and medically unsafe
Mouth taping, a viral trend gaining momentum on TikTok and other social media platforms, is under scrutiny after a new Canadian study revealed it poses serious health risks, especially for people with undiagnosed sleep apnea or other breathing disorders. Popular among self-styled 'looksmaxxing' communities and wellness influencers, the practice involves sealing the lips shut during sleep to encourage nasal breathing. Claims range from improved sleep and better oral health to enhanced jawline definition and anti-aging effects. But researchers from the Lawson Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), and Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry say these claims have no strong scientific basis. They reviewed 86 studies on the subject and performed an in-depth analysis of 10 that included 213 patient experiences. The conclusion: mouth taping does not deliver the health benefits influencers promise, and may actually worsen sleep-related breathing issues. While social media content promotes mouth taping as a simple solution for a variety of sleep and cosmetic issues, the researchers found no robust evidence supporting any of these benefits. The trend is being driven largely by non-experts, many of whom lack medical training. Dr. Brian Rotenberg, a researcher at Lawson, LHSCRI, and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, noted that it was concerning to see celebrities and influencers endorsing mouth taping without scientific evidence. He said, 'In the language of social media influencers, it seemed a bit 'sus,' so we examined what science is telling us about this trend and whether or not it is safe.' The review found no meaningful improvements in sleep quality, oral hygiene, or physical appearance that could be directly linked to mouth taping. In fact, most studies either showed no impact or highlighted potential complications. The biggest concern from the researchers is the risk posed to people with undiagnosed sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Taping the mouth can block a crucial airway route, especially if the nose becomes congested. Rotenberg, who is also an otolaryngologist and sleep surgeon, emphasized that taping the mouth shut during sleep is dangerous, especially among those who may not be aware they have sleep apnea. He said these individuals are unknowingly making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk for serious health complications like heart disease. The rise of mouth taping is closely tied to online beauty and 'optimization' trends, where users chase physical perfection through extreme or unproven techniques. Within the looksmaxxing community, a space focused on enhancing perceived attractiveness, mouth taping has been promoted as a way to fix the so-called 'mouth breather face' and sculpt a more defined jawline. It's often discussed alongside practices like 'mewing,' which involves tongue posture exercises, and 'mogging,' which describes outshining others in looks or dominance. These aesthetic claims have spread rapidly across platforms like TikTok and Reddit, even though they lack credible scientific validation. The influence of viral trends often outpaces scientific scrutiny, creating a gap that misinformation easily fills. People trying these hacks are often unaware of the physiological dangers involved, particularly when they interfere with something as critical as breathing. The study's authors stressed the importance of making health decisions based on scientific research rather than social media fads. The message from the medical community is clear: wellness trends should not come at the cost of breathing safely through the night. The study is published in the journal PLOS One.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning over deadly suffocation risk of celeb health trend loved by Gwyneth Paltrow
Experts have raised the alarm over the viral sleep trend of taping the mouth shut in a bid to encourage deeper breathing and, as a result, a better night's rest. While the fad may have gained popularity among celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Tess Daly, it deprives wearers of life-giving oxygen overnight, experts from Canada have found. By analysing 10 studies on the practise, scientists at the Lawson Research Institute discovered an alarming risk of potentially fatal suffocation for millions who naturally breathe more easily through their mouth. This is common in those with allergies and even a cold or runny nose, whereby the nasal passages are blocked. Four of the studies the researchers looked at found evidence of the life-threatening risk of suffocation, also called asphyxiation, which means the body is deprived of oxygen. What's more, the analysis showed the trend was useless in relieving snoring or sleep apnoea. 'Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate,' Dr Brian Rotenberg, an ENT specialist and author of the study, explained. 'Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm.' Mouth taping involves securing the mouth shut with adhesive tape, across the lips, before going to sleep, forcing the wearer to breathe through their nose. This, proponents of the practice believe, is what leads to benefits, as snoring is typically caused by tongue vibrations that happen when people breathe through their mouth. Advocates also say breathing through the nose can help protect against bugs, as it triggers the production of a compound called nitric oxide, which acts as a defense mechanism against pathogens we inhale. Nitric oxide has also been shown to relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure and even support kidney function. However, researchers found that in 80 per cent of the studies, there was no evidence that mouth taping helped treat mouth breathing or snoring overnight. Just two of the studies suggested that people with mild obstructive sleep apnoea may benefit slightly from the practice. This common condition, which affects around 1.5million people in the UK, occurs when the walls of the throat relax and narrow or close during sleep, blocking the upper airway. This can interrupt breathing, causing sufferers to wake suddenly throughout the night and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and dementia. Most concerning was the risk of asphyxiation, the researchers said. People who suffer from rhinitis—which occurs when the inside of the nose becomes irritated, causing a blocked or runny nose—allergies, or have a deviated septum, are more likely to experience breathing difficulties when using mouth tape, they warned. On the basis of these findings, Dr Rotenberg and his colleagues are confident that existing evidence does not support mouth taping as an effective treatment for snoring or sleep apnea. However, the researchers note, further research is needed to ascertain whether mouth-taping provides other health benefits.
