August 8, 2024 By Lisa Wachsmuth—

If there was a magic pill to slow the progression of Phil Hazel’s Alzheimer’s disease and allow him to forever retain the happy memories he’s made with his wife Jan, he’d happily swallow it.

The Sydney retiree may one day get that chance, with a world-first trial to begin in ­Sydney this week of a drug that promises to reverse the decline in cognitive function in people living with the most prevalent form of dementia.

After successful animal studies in the US, researchers from St Vincent’s and Adelaide’s Flinders hospitals have started recruiting for study participants to take a once-a-day pill that could prove a “game-changer” for Alzheimer’s patients.

The trial’s principal investigator, St Vincent’s Professor Bruce Brew, said the new drug – called SPG 302 – took a completely different approach to tackling Alzheimer’s disease.

“Synapses are the communication ports between nerve cells and in Alzheimer’s patients these are often lost or damaged in the regions of the brain involved in memory, ­cognition and mood,” Prof Brew said.

“This drug somehow improves synaptic formation and, in animal models, it not only slowed down impairment in the brain, it improved function.

“The realistic hope is that it will significantly slow or stabilise the disease in Alzheimer’s patients. The ambitious hope is that it will help sufferers ­actually regain function and recover memory.”

After a quarter of a century in the field, Prof Brew ­welcomed the “breakthrough” from US-based company Spinogenix and said it could be the “dawn of a new era” in treating Alzheimer’s.

Around 450,000 Australians are currently living with all forms of dementia, which is the second leading cause of death in Australia behind cardiovascular disease.

For those living with the condition, like Mr Hazel, the new pill brings hope.

The Northmead resident was diagnosed a decade ago at the relatively young age of 55 and was callously told by a doctor to “go home and get your affairs in order”.

“I have times of confusion, they can come on at any time and I tend to wander the house, not knowing what to do,” he said. “I find it difficult to count, or concentrate, and get a bit unsteady on my feet.

“Yet what I most fear is forgetting Jan’s name, which is something I know will happen and I won’t notice, but it will be tough for her.”

Mr Hazel welcomed the drug trial.

“We’re all living longer and all forms of the disease are going to show up,” he said. “Catching the disease at an early age is vital.”

Alzheimer’s patients with mild to moderate forms of the disease aged 45-85 are encouraged to apply for the trial.

For more information, visit ­clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06427668