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Two Cancer Drugs Show Surprising Promise in Treating Alzheimer’s
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, JUL 24 – Combination of letrozole and irinotecan reversed brain degeneration and improved memory in mice, with patient data showing up to 80% lower Alzheimer’s rates in treated cancer patients.
- A study published on July 21, 2025, revealed that two cancer drugs already approved by the FDA were able to reverse Alzheimer's symptoms and decrease brain degeneration in a mouse model of the disease.
- They used computational analysis of 1,300 drugs comparing gene expression signatures from Alzheimer's brains to identify five top candidates, selecting letrozole and irinotecan for testing.
- In a mouse model with Alzheimer's-related mutations, the drug combination restored memory, reduced toxic protein clumps, and reprogrammed diseased brain cells toward healthy states.
- Analysis of medical records of 1.4 million older patients showed 53% and 80% lower Alzheimer's rates among those treated with letrozole or irinotecan for cancer, respectively, though human trials are needed.
- The findings demonstrate a promising multi-target strategy that may overcome prior treatment challenges and could soon advance to clinical trials for Alzheimer's patients.
21 Articles
21 Articles
It was explored how common dementia changes genetic expression (which genes are activated or deactivated) in certain brain cells
Scientists Find 2 Existing Drugs Can Reverse Alzheimer's Brain Damage in Mice
In efforts to beat Alzheimer's disease, researchers are looking at existing drugs that could tackle the condition, and a new study identifies two promising candidates that are currently used to treat cancer. Already approved by regulators in the US – meaning potential clinical trials for Alzheimer's could start sooner – the drugs are letrozole (usually used to treat breast cancer) and irinotecan (usually used to treat colon and lung cancer). Res…
Cancer Drugs for Alzheimer's? Gene Therapy Distribution Halted; Reframing APOE4
(MedPage Today) -- Mouse studies identified the cancer drugs letrozole and irinotecan as a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's disease, each targeting Alzheimer's-related gene expression changes in neurons and glial cells. (Cell) Most...
Using cancer drugs for Alzheimer’s disease — and more health headlines
Medical Watch Digest for July 21 Cancer drugs & dementia treatment Two successful cancer drugs appear to have a new use, fighting memory loss. University of California San Francisco doctors tested 1,300 approved cancer medications. They found a combination of two drugs have power against the most common form of dementia. They work by reversing the changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer’s. The FDA approved medications reduced brain dege…
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