On 2015 Jul 25, David Keller commented:

Yet another treatment is proved futile for slowing neuro-degeneration

Pioglitazone, meet minocycline, co-enzyme Q-10, creatine, and vitamin E. They are all losers in the search for a neuro-protective agent to slow the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

This result is particularly disappointing given the recent observational study which found the use of thiazolidinediones ("glitazones") to be associated with reduced incidence of Parkinson's disease [1].

Note: pioglitazone is the only widely-used glitazone since the FDA restricted the use of rosiglitazone (Avandia) due to safety concerns.

Reference:

1: Brauer R, Bhaskaran K, Chaturvedi N, Dexter DT, Smeeth L, Douglas I. Glitazone Treatment and Incidence of Parkinson's Disease among People with Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLoS Med. 2015 Jul 21;12(7):e1001854. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001854. eCollection 2015 Jul. PubMed PMID: 26196151.

On 2015 Jul 25, David Keller commented:

Yet another treatment is proved futile for slowing neuro-degeneration

Pioglitazone, meet minocycline, co-enzyme Q-10, creatine, and vitamin E. They are all losers in the search for a neuro-protective agent to slow the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

This result is particularly disappointing given the recent observational study which found the use of thiazolidinediones ("glitazones") to be associated with reduced incidence of Parkinson's disease [1].

Note: pioglitazone is the only widely-used glitazone since the FDA restricted the use of rosiglitazone (Avandia) due to safety concerns.

Reference:

1: Brauer R, Bhaskaran K, Chaturvedi N, Dexter DT, Smeeth L, Douglas I. Glitazone Treatment and Incidence of Parkinson's Disease among People with Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLoS Med. 2015 Jul 21;12(7):e1001854. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001854. eCollection 2015 Jul. PubMed PMID: 26196151.