By Megan Rauscher

Bryostatin, a drug that has been studied as an anti-cancer agent, enhances long-term memory in lab experiments, scientists say.

"Bryostatin is a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease, both for the neurodegeneration - the underlying cause of the disease - and for the symptoms," according to Dr Daniel L. Alkon, from Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in Rockville, Maryland.

In a previous study in mice, Dr Alkon's team observed that bryostatin effectively stops the Alzheimer's disease process. It reduces brain levels of amyloid-beta protein - characteristic of the disease - helps prevent premature death, and improves behaviour.

The team found that Bryostatin also enhanced learning and memory retention of rats in a maze task.

"Now we've taken this drug and explored in great detail how it may affect memory itself - not just neurodegeneration," Dr Alkon said.

The researchers found that Bryostatin accelerated the synthesis of proteins that helped long-term memory formation - "that was totally unexpected".

"The beauty of this drug is that it has already been used in people for years to treat cancer - although not successfully - and therefore we know it is non-toxic," said Dr Alkon.

In addition to Alzheimer's disease, bryostatin may also have a role in other dementias, he said, "and maybe even for treating people who need cognitive enhancement such as perhaps people with memory or learning compromise or those recovering from stroke."

- REUTERS