The study found that the drug, called RI-AG03, was effective in preventing the accumulation of tau proteins in both laboratory and fruit fly studies.
Lead author of the study, Dr Anthony Agidis, a former postdoctoral research fellow at Lancaster University and researcher at the University of Southampton, said: “Our research represents an important step towards creating treatments that can prevent the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. “By targeting both key regions of the tau protein, this unique approach could help address the growing impact of dementia on society, providing a much-needed new option for treating these devastating diseases.”
Tau proteins help stabilize the internal structure of nerve cells in the brain. But in Alzheimer’s disease, these proteins malfunction, clumping together to form tangles that block nerve cells. This prevents it from getting the nutrients and signals it needs to survive.
As more neurons die, memory, thinking, and behavior become increasingly impaired, leading to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers say there are two tau hotspots where this clumping tends to occur.
Current treatments target one of these hot spots, but the new drug uniquely targets and prevents both.
Amritpal Moder, professor of neuroscience at the University of Southampton, said: “For the first time, we have a drug that is effective in inhibiting both areas. “This dual targeting mechanism is important because it addresses both areas that stimulate tau accumulation, paving the way for more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.”
When tested on fruit flies, the drug successfully suppressed damage to nerve cells and extended the flies’ lives by about two weeks, a significant extension considering the lifespan of insects.
To make sure this was not unique to fruit flies, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center tested the drug in a type of living human cell in the laboratory.
According to the results, the drug succeeded in penetrating cells and reducing the accumulation of tau proteins.
The researchers plan to test the drug on rodents, before moving on to clinical trials.
They believe their work will have a major impact on drug discovery efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s UK, which funded the study, said: “This research takes promising steps towards a unique new treatment that targets tau, a harmful protein in the brains of people living with Alzheimer’s, and prevents it from clumping together. together. This drug has greater targeting potential than other drugs currently being studied, and we hope it will lead to fewer toxic side effects. “It is important to note that the study is in its early stages, so we don’t know yet whether it will work or be safe for humans, but it is an exciting development and we look forward to seeing where it will lead us.”
Source: Independent
#Medical #breakthrough #innovative #drug #treat #Alzheimers #succeeds #blocking #major #hot #spots #disease
2024-10-05 14:28:25
