This is a new feature for paid subscribers of Longevity Lifehacks. Each week (or two), I will bring you a quick summary of new research studies that I think are important and actionable in the fields of longevity, lifespan, or healthspan.
1) Two repurposed cancer drugs for Alzheimer's Disease
A new study in Cell by UC San Francisco researchers shows that two cancer drugs, letrozole and irinotecan, can target the changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease. The in vitro and mouse study showed that the combination of the two cancer drugs could significantly improve memory and reverse Alzheimer’s gene expression changes. Interestingly, looking at electronic medical records, the researchers found that patients who had been on letrozole and irinotecan were at a lower risk of Alzheimer's.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor that decreases estrogen. It is used for postmenopausal breast cancer and sometimes for endometriosis. (Interesting in the light of the push for more HRT for women.) Irinotecan is a topoisomerase inhibitor used in colon and pancreatic cancers. Topoisomerase inhibitors inhibit the enzymes needed for DNA replication, which leads to cell death in the rapidly dividing tumor cells.
Why did I find this study so interesting?
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