An Old Drug May Keep You Young

Posted January 8, 2009, 9:05 am in Aging


Could a drug used nearly a century ago to clear up digestive problems be a key ingredient in turning the tide in the fight against Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease? Researchers at McGill University say testing in animals leave them optimistic that they 're on a very promising track.

Once commonly prescribed in Europe and Asia for gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and shigella, clioquinol was withdrawn from the market after being blamed for a devastating outbreak of sub acute myelo-optic neuropathy in Japan in the 1960s. But some researchers think the drug’s culpability is unproven, because no rigorous study was conducted at the time and the medication was used safely by millions before and after the event.

Scientist say they are optimistic but cautious on whether clioquinol can safely and effectively fight aging. These findings first appeared in the October issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Clioquinol is one of a few substances that have attracted scientific scrutiny in recent years for their potential anti-aging effects. Many researchers believe one of the most promising is resveratrol, an ingredient found in red wine.


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