Nervous disorders
A team of American scientists have discovered that antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder.
Recent research conducted at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University, showed that drugs commonly used to treat schizophrenia and manic depression could prevent people from developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) - a disorder that usually sees patients die four months after onset.
PML, which is caused by the JC virus, also causes dementia, vision loss, movement and speech impairment, paralysis and coma. While it is known that most people carry the virus, it only affects those with weakened immune systems, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or those with AIDS.
This may soon be prevented as the study found that the use of three different anti-psychotic drugs could block PML.
Walter Atwood, the Brown virologist who led the research, said: "The discovery is very promising. These are generic drugs we can take off the shelf. They could help a lot of people."
Anti-psychotic drugs may, however, have bad side effects. Bryan Roth, professor of biochemistry at the Case School of Medicine, who also worked on the research, added: "It is likely that there are many other drugs available that could also block infection but with none of the potential side effects of anti-psychotic drugs."
