2023-07-23 08:02:59
Published on :
This consequence of cerebral lesions of vascular origin, vascular dementia, represents an increasing proportion of dementias and the 2nd cause of dementia in Western countries, following Alzheimer’s disease. This team from the University of Texas at El Paso seeks to better understand how the suppression of blood flow in the brain causes this condition, and explores the potential of a new treatment for vascular dementia. Supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS/NIH)
Vascular dementia – the second most common type of dementia in the world – is caused by reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain. Its effects are comparable to those of Alzheimer’s disease and include memory loss and cognitive impairment such as confusion, slowed thinking and difficulty with problem solving and speaking.
Lead author Mohammad Iqbal Bhuiyan, Ph.D., professor of pharmacy, an expert in ischemic strokes (which occur when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked) and his team, focus on the biological triggers underlying the disease and on
a drug candidate known as “ZT-1a”,
to counter the disease. The main endpoint for future research will be its ability to prevent cognitive impairment in patients with vascular dementia.
The study published earlier this year by the team, and conducted with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh has already shown that ZT-1a exerts a neuroprotective effect and can suppress the adverse effects of ischemic stroke and has therapeutic potential once morest vascular dementia as a protector of brain white matter.
The promise of this inhibitor of SPAK – a gene involved in angiogenesis and a pathway involved in stroke – will have to be confirmed by new research.
Editorial team Santélog
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#VASCULAR #DEMENTIA #treatment #perspective
