Scientists at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) have discovered that a cancer drug Bryostatin enhances the formation of new connections in rat brains during memory storage. This drug could potentially increase normal memory capacity in humans as well as repair and restore memory lost from Alzheimer's disease, stroke and head trauma.

"Diseases like Alzheimer's actually destroy synapses in the human brain. There is still no recognized cure," said Dr. Alkon. "In our animal studies with Bryostatin, damaged brains repaired synaptic connections of cells that were ruined from disease, giving the brain more capacity for memory. If this result is applicable to humans, this could be life-changing for Alzheimer's patients."

BRNI is preparing now for the first clinical trials of Bryostatin for the treatment of neurological disorders. Clinical trials will test whether Bryostatin's promising preclinical results generalize to humans.

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