Dementia remains a significant health challenge, particularly among individuals with Parkinson's disease. With no known safe or affordable treatments to slow its progression, researchers at Lawson Research Institute are exploring the potential of Ambroxol, a long-utilized cough medicine in Europe, to mitigate dementia symptoms in those with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD).
A recent 12-month clinical trial published in JAMA Neurology involved 55 participants diagnosed with PDD. The study assessed memory, psychiatric symptoms, and GFAP, a blood marker associated with brain damage. Parkinson's disease dementia can lead to severe cognitive decline, hallucinations, and mood alterations, impacting both patients and their families. Approximately half of those diagnosed with Parkinson's will develop dementia within ten years.
Under the direction of Cognitive Neurologist Dr. Stephen Pasternak, participants were divided into two groups, one receiving daily Ambroxol and the other a placebo. Key findings indicated that Ambroxol was safe and well-tolerated, with therapeutic levels reached in the brain. Notably, while psychiatric symptoms worsened in the placebo group, those taking Ambroxol maintained stable symptoms. Furthermore, participants with high-risk GBA1 gene variants showed improved cognitive performance, and GFAP levels remained stable in the Ambroxol group, suggesting a protective effect against brain cell damage.
Although Ambroxol is not approved for use in Canada or the U.S., it has a long-standing safety profile in Europe. This research aims to address the limitations of current therapies that only manage symptoms without affecting the underlying disease. With funding from the Weston Foundation, Dr. Pasternak plans to initiate a follow-up clinical trial focused on cognitive outcomes later this year, marking a crucial step forward in the search for effective treatments for Parkinson's disease and related cognitive disorders.