Salsalate, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is similar to aspirin, has been around since the late 19th century and is used as an alternative to ibuprofen for rheumatoid arthritis. It works differently than aspirin, however, reducing production of a number of pro-inflammatory molecules.
Findings from a preclinical study by scientists at The Gladstone Institute, published in Nature, suggest salsalate may also be useful in treating and preventing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases that involve tau protein. Tau protein aggregates to form the “tangles” of Alzheimer’s and is a hallmark of several other diseases, including progressive supranuclear palsy, cortiobasal degeneration, and frontotemporal dementia.
When salsalate was given to mice with tau tangles, the number of tangles decreased and new tangles were prevented from forming. Salsalate also preserved brain cells and cognitive function, whereas untreated animals developed disease and memory loss.
For many years, the tau protein found in brain tangles in Alzheimer’s disease patients was known to be modified through a process called phosphorylation, which changes the shape and function of tau. Another type of modification, called acetylation, also regulates tau function and is thought to underlie these new results.
These finds are very preliminary. No studies have yet tested whether salsalate can improve cognitive function in human patients or protect against tauopathies. But that will change soon. A small, pilot clinical trial has been launched to test salsalate in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Results are expected in fall 2016.
Aaron Carman, PhD, was previously the Assistant Director of Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Dr. Carman received his doctorate in microbiology and molecular genetics from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
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