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Statin and aspirin may reduce risk of brain diseases By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/175438/1/.html Statin and aspirin are currently used to treat heart diseases. But researchers say these drugs, which have anti-inflammatory properties, also seem to lower the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases as well. This is because their findings suggest the drugs can reduce the inflammation of cells that support the neurons - which are message-carrying cells in the brain. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases occur when brain cells degenerate. Professor Caleb E Finch, a neurologist from the University of Southern California, said: "In the same communities where these (drugs) have been successful in reducing heart attack by 30 percent or more, the risk of Alzheimer's disease is lower. So I think - well, many of us think - that the inflammatory processes in vascular diseases and Alzheimer's diseases are very similar." Prof Finch says this finding is important, to ensure that stem cell transplants to replace ageing neurons are successful. However, he adds that prescribing statin or aspirin to those who are susceptible to brain diseases as a preventive step is not advisable as more research needs to be done. With this knowledge, his team is looking at developing a drug which may have dual function - slow down or prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases as well as prevent heart disease. Prof Finch's research finding is just one of the papers presented at the Keystone Symposia on stem cell biology. Over the next few days, experts at the symposium in Singapore are expected to discuss further the latest research findings and breakthroughs in stem cell therapy. They will discuss especially how advances in the understanding of stem cell biology can be applied to cancer cells. - CNA/ir ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn