Old drug may have new trick

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/old-drug-may-have-new-trick

by Nathan Seppa
October 9, 2013
Magazine issue: November 2, 2013 (I have an on-line subscription)

A drug that treats Parkinson’s disease might also work against multiple sclerosis, or MS.

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Using the cells’ forerunners, nascent brain cells called oligodendrocyte precursor cells, from rats and mice, the researchers found that benztropine proved adept at steering these cells to become myelin-making oligodendrocytes.

The researchers then induced in mice a disease that mimics MS and gave some of the animals benztropine, others a standard MS drug (fingolimod or interferon beta) and some no drug at all. Whether given before or after disease onset, benztropine reduced symptom severity and prevented relapses better than other MS drugs. Mice getting no drug fared the poorest, according to results appearing October 9 in Nature.

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[A comment:]



Benzatropine is an acetylcholine uptake inhibitor usually prescribed to counter the side effects from other drugs.

Side effects for Benzatropine? Blurred vision and dry mouth, constipation and urinary retention, rapid heartbeat and anorexia... and oh yes, "cognitive changes" peaking at outright psychosis. I suppose that's less annoying in mice than in higher primates!

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[MS itself can cause cognitive problems. One needs to look at the likelihood of damage from the medication versus the damage being caused by the disease, and of course making adjustments if necessary.]