Experimental drug massively reduces Alzheimer's risk

Can a drug for strokes also help with Alzheimer's?

Experts have now discovered that an experimental drug used to treat strokes may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at the University of Southern California found in their current research that a drug used to treat strokes could also be used to prevent Alzheimer's disease. The physicians published the results of their study in the English journal "Journal of Experimental Medicine".

Alzheimer's affects more and more older people. However, a new drug could prevent the development of Alzheimer's in the future. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

What does 3K3A-APC do??

When mice were given a drug called 3K3A-APC, it resulted in their brain being protected from building toxic proteins and inhibiting possible memory loss. 3K3A-APC is already used in experimental medicine to reduce bleeding in the brain tissue of stroke patients. 3K3A-APC is a genetically modified version of a human blood protein called activated protein C, the researchers explain. Activated protein C reduces inflammation and protects nerve cells and cells lining the blood vessels from programmed cell suicide, also known as apoptosis, researchers say.

What is amyloid-β?

Based on its neuroprotective, vasculoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities in several models of neurological diseases, the experts investigated in a mouse model for Alzheimer's whether 3K3A-APC can also protect the brain from the toxic effects of amyloid-β-toxin. Zlokovic from the University of Southern California. So-called amyloid β proteins accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, leading to progressive loss of nerve cells and reducing blood flow through the vital organ.

3K3A-APC reduced accumulation of amyloid-β by 50 percent

Injected into genetically engineered Alzheimer's mice, the scientists found that 3K3A-APC reduced the accumulation of amyloid-β by as much as 50 percent in just four months compared to animals from a control group that did not receive 3K3A-APC and Cognitive decline, blood-brain barrier degradation and neuroinflammation occurred.

3K3A-APC prevents production of BACE1

3K3A-APC prevents neurons from forming the enzyme BACE1, which is required for the production of amyloid-β. Although inhibitors of BACE1 have been previously tested, this study suggests that blocking enzyme production can be an effective approach, especially in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, before amyloid-β permanently damages the brain, the authors of the study explain. Current data support the notion that 3K3A-APC has potential for effective anti-amyloid β therapy in early-stage Alzheimer's, Dr. Zlokovic. 3K3A-APC has demonstrated high safety in clinical trials in stroke patients, multiple sclerosis (MS) and brain trauma studies, adds the physician.

Further research is needed

Amyloid remains one of the key drug development targets. However, the study is an early stage research using a drug that is not yet approved for use in people with a stroke. As with any research on mice, careful interpretation of the results must also be used. Much more work is needed before such a drug can be used for people with Alzheimer's disease or any other neurodegenerative disease.

It should also be remembered that in the past many drugs that had similar beneficial effects in mouse models could not bring about improvements in Alzheimer's patients. However, the results of the study provide a promising route for future research into treatments for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. (As)