ISTANBUL

A Japanese research institute announced Tuesday that the final phase of a clinical trial testing a Parkinson’s drug as a potential treatment for familial Alzheimer’s disease has been underway since May.

The project, led by Towa Pharmaceutical Co. in partnership with Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, uses a method called "iPS drug discovery." This approach utilizes special stem cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells, to help identify promising treatments.

The center said on Tuesday that although the trial involved a limited number of patients, "bromocriptine did not show any side effects specific to familial Alzheimer's disease."

Bromocriptine is a medicine that lowers certain hormones by acting like dopamine. It's used for high prolactin, Parkinson’s, and type 2 diabetes.

They also noted a "tendency for the progression of cognitive function and behavioral/psychological symptoms to be suppressed" in the group receiving the drug compared to the placebo group.

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that affects memory and other thinking skills, often making daily activities difficult. While available medications can temporarily relieve symptoms, there is still no cure. One rare type of the disease is familial Alzheimer’s, also known as early-onset familial Alzheimer’s, which typically affects people under the age of 60.

The clinical trial, which will run until March 2028, is testing the bromocriptine at several hospitals, including Mie University Hospital.

The study plans to include 24 people with familial Alzheimer’s disease caused by a certain gene mutation. Half of the participants will be given the real drug, while the other half will receive a placebo.