People With Alzheimer's May Need Dosing Changes in Medicines Prescribed for Other Conditions

Mouse studies in Molecular Pharmaceutics suggest that the practice of prescribing drugs for other ailments in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the same doses as those without dementia may require a rethink, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers quantified the absorption of compounds that move from the small intestine to the bloodstream through different mechanisms. For example, blood plasma levels of diazepam were similar in AD mice versus controls, but AD mice had less valsartan and digoxin in their plasma. Prior research implied that these drugs' transmission through intestinal cells is governed by transporters that could be disrupted by AD. The medications also may pass through gaps between intestinal cells, and tissue samples indicated that these gaps might be more limiting in AD mice. If these findings are applicable to people with AD, the researchers recommend reexamining dosing regimens for certain drugs to ensure their plasma concentrations remain in the appropriate range.