Is Dutasteride a Therapeutic Alternative for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?

    August 2022 in “ Biomedicines ”
    Belén Proaño, Julia Casani-Cubel, María Benlloch, Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Esther Navarro-Illana, Jose María Lajara-Romance, José Enrique de la Rubia Ortí
    Image of study
    TLDR Dutasteride, usually used for prostate issues and hair loss, could potentially treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) due to its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, but more testing is needed.
    The document reviews the potential of Dutasteride, traditionally used for benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia, as a treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Dutasteride inhibits type 1 and type 2 5α-reductase enzymes, which may increase progesterone and testosterone levels, hormones known to have neuroprotective effects. The drug shows promising anti-ALS properties, including neuroprotection, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, and effectiveness against glutamate toxicity. It may also restore altered dopamine activity and interact favorably with the TDP-43 protein, mutations of which are related to ALS. However, more clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    9 / 9 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community DHT/Testosterone levels in scalp Fin VS Dut.

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  60 upvotes 5 months ago
      Dutasteride raises scalp testosterone by 99%, which may not be ideal for those sensitive to all androgens. Some argue finasteride's balancing act might be better, while others believe dutasteride is superior for hair regrowth.

      community DHT and 5AR respect post, it's importance within the brain

      in Research/Science  111 upvotes 9 months ago
      The conversation discusses whether to use finasteride for hair loss, considering its role in inhibiting DHT and 5AR, which can affect brain function and mood. Some users report anxiety and depression from finasteride, while others do not experience these side effects and emphasize the importance of DHT for brain and prostate health.

      community Proof that finasteride messes with neurosteroids

      in Research/Science  230 upvotes 5 months ago
      Finasteride can impact neurosteroids, potentially causing depression and other side effects in some users. Despite these concerns, many continue using it for hair loss, with some switching to topical applications to mitigate side effects.
      FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      community FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      in Research  330 upvotes 4 months ago
      FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

    Similar Research

    6 / 1000+ results