There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but treatment may reduce symptoms such as memory loss and confusion, and some may slow the progression of the disease.
This disease is characterized by the production of proteins in the brain that interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses.
A new study in mice showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease shows that treatment with a synthetic peptide can reduce the production of this protein and restore memory and learning functions.
Here is some of what Katherine Lang reported on the issue for Medical News Today:
As people, on average, are living longer, dementia is a growing problem worldwide. Studies suggest that dementia will affect more than 150 million people around the world by 2050.
Alzheimer’s disease can produce a range of symptoms, such as memory loss, cognitive deficits, and changes in personality, which are widely thought to be caused by a buildup of two proteins — beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau — in the brain.
Existing treatments generally aim to alleviate symptoms, with some newer disease-modifying treatments, such as aducanumab and lecanemab, showing promise at clearing Aβ. However, these monoclonal antibody treatments have side effects, which some experts believe may outweigh their clinical benefits.
A new study has outlined a potential treatment that targets the tau protein that builds up into neurofibrillary tangles which slow down the passage of nerve impulses across synapses (the junctions between nerve cells).
The researchers found that in transgenic mice a synthetic peptide, PHDP5, inhibited a pathway that leads to tau buildup and reversed memory and learning deficits.
To read more on this article about Peptide treatments, click HERE.