Biopeer

Scientists successfully reverse signs of Alzheimer’s disease

Biologists at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland have developed a compound capable of blocking a nerve cell interaction that leads to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers have successfully prevented the death of brain cells, which leads to improved memory and learning ability that was already damaged. "Alzheimer’s sufferers produce too much amyloid and ABAD in their brains," said Frank Gunn-Moore, senior lecturer at the University of St. Andrews. "Based on our knowledge of ABAD, we produced an inhibitor that can prevent amyloid attaching to it in a living model." The researchers are now trying to refine the inhibitor to develop a potential drug, particularly for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinics are aiming to develop an improved diagnostic method and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers are studying aging effects in elderly people and analyzing how aging changes brain structure, thought processes and blood chemistry, so they can model and predict progression to Alzheimer’s disease. “We have moved a great distance forward in understanding what might be the key, or, in the least, an important aspect of this disease," said Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D. at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "We are at the threshold of developing therapies that we hope will eventually impact Alzheimer’s disease."

A study published in the July 31 issue of Neurology showed that a drug initially used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease improved the memory, language and attention of people with severe Alzheimer’s disease. The study was carried out on 343 patients over a period of six months. Half the group was given a daily dose of donepezil, the other half got a placebo. The study found cognitive function stabilized or improved in 63% of the patients taking donepezil compared to 39% who were taking placebo. "Our findings provide further evidence that donepezil is safe, effective and benefits cognition and global function in people with severe Alzheimer’s disease,” said Sandra Black, professor of Neurology at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center.

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New Alzheimer'€™s gene identified

Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Banner Alzheimer'€™s Institute and Kronos Science Laboratory identified a new Alzheimer's gene called GAB2 that could modify an individual’s risk when associated with the most significant Alzheimer’s gene, APOE4. The study contributed to the genome-wide scans that analyzed GAB2 using Affymetrix microarray technology. The findings showed that the GAB2 protein produced by this gene was present in brain cells containing tangles. "We hope that this study, along with the genome-wide genetics studies to come, will contribute to the clarification of Alzheimer's risk factors and disease mechanisms, the discovery of promising new disease-slowing and prevention therapies, and the identification of patients and at-risk people most likely to benefit from those treatments," said Dr. Eric Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer's Institute.

Researchers at Medivation Inc. found that the drug Dimebon, previously launched in Russia as an antihistamine drug, was more effective than placebo in treating Alzheimer'€™s disease. The results of the study suggested that Dimebon could be beneficial to alleviate symptoms and prevent progression of the disease. The drug showed cognition and memory-enhancing properties that selectively destroyed cholinergic neurons. The study involved drug trials with 183 patients and was conducted at multiple sites in Russia. "These are the best data that a phase II Alzheimer's study has ever shown€," said Dr. Rachelle S. Doody, lead author of the study, Baylor College of Medicine. A phase III clinical trial of the drug is set for next year.

A study at DiaGenic, a biotech company in Oslo, Norway, found that certain blood tests and brain scans could detect symptoms of Alzheimer'€™s disease. The findings of the study, headed by Anders Lonneborg, identified a set of 96 genes that look different in the blood sample of Alzheimer'€™s patients when compared to those without the disease. The company is awaiting approval of the test by regulators in the United States and Europe.

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Brain studies unearth startling facts

American researchers have isolated a gene as a possible cause for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. They zeroed in on this gene SORL1 after examining DNA samples of 6,000 participants during five years. SORL1 is responsible for recycling amyloid precursor protein. When defects occur in this gene, toxic amyloid beta peptides are produced. These peptides then create those amyloid deposits whose collection in the brain has been accepted as a cause for Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers observed that this defect is found more commonly in individuals with the disease rather than individuals without the disease in the same age group. They now hope that this finding will lead to the development of a new treatment beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients.

Meanwhile, scientists from Canada have established that being bilingual delays dementia. The researchers, from the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Research Center for Aging and the Brain, examined the diagnostic records of 184 patients who complained of cognitive problems. They calculated that for the 91 participants who were monolingual, the mean age of developing dementia was 71.4 years. On the other hand, for the 93 participants who were bilingual, the mean age was 75.5 years. This difference of four years remained even after adjusting for other factors. The researchers are planning to conduct further research into this link.

In a related development, the European Union (EU) has given its nod to the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) drug Cipralex (escitalopram). The approval was granted on the basis of clinical studies on more than 750 participants which proved that the drug is both safe and effective for OCD patients. H Lundbeck AS are the manufacturers of the drug.

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Preventing, diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study has found that exercizing the brain is a more effective way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than any pill. The study analyzed over 26 studies consisting of over 60,000 subjects before arriving at the conclusion that neuroprotective effects at the cellular level can decrease the number of AD occurrences. Intellectual activity boosts the cognitive reserve, which, in turn, averts AD. In a separate study conducted on mice, researchers at the University of South Carolina found that no testosterone results in AD-like diseases. The mice were divided into two groups, one with the ability to produce testosterone and one without. Beta-amyloid levels were raised in the mice who did not produce testosterone. Beta-amyloid has been previously linked to AD. The scientists now wish to use these findings to develop a therapy for men in order to prevent AD.

Meanwhile, researchers have pinpointed an imaging compound FDDNP as effectively diagnosing AD. FDDNP sticks to the plaque that accumulates in the case of AD. In a study conducted on 83 volunteers, it was found that FDDNP PET scans were more accurate than FDG PET scans and MRI scans in differentiating between patients with AD and those with mild mental impairment. This was clear even two years later in a follow-up study. The diagnostic technique will help researchers working on new therapies to be able to evaluate their efficacy.

Scientists at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom have stepped closer to a treatment for AD with a new antibody. This antibody has the ability to obstruct the growth of amyloid, a brain chemical that has been proved to have a connection to AD. The researchers believe that reducing the accumulation of this protein will be achievable in a few years.

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Towards unraveling the brain’s intricacies

In what could be a major step in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, American researchers have zeroed in on a group of proteins that act as a marker of the disease. Researchers from Cornell University and the Weill Cornell Medical College, both in New York State, collected cerebrospinal fluid proteins from 68 patients. Then, they distinguished 23 proteins that formed a pattern. On examining the brains of the participating patients after they died, researchers found that their diagnosis of the presence or absence of the disease was fairly accurate. The researchers are hopeful that their findings will lead to the formulation of a diagnostic test that will identify the disease in the early stages to enable better treatment.

Furthering investigation into diagnosis of mental disorders, researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UK, have found that studying the reduction of brain density in the part of the brain called temporal gyrus can determine individuals at risk for schizophrenia. They conducted brain scans on 65 individuals who are at known risk for schizophrenia and followed the changes in their brain densities for 18 months. While sixty per cent of those predicted to develop the condition did so, 90 per cent of those predicted to not develop the condition did not develop it.

Meanwhile, Canadian researchers from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, have established that hysteria is not an imaginary condition. During a study, the researchers conducted brain imaging scans of three women who were suffering from this condition. The researchers observed that when they stimulated the areas the women complained of being numb, the part of the brain that recognizes touch failed to respond. While the researchers admit that the study was small, they believe that the scope for positive findings from further research is huge.

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A few small steps forward for diagnostics

The field of diagnostics is witnessing hopeful developments. Tests are being formulated to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage so as to increase the chances of successful treatment.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared an automated test for rheumatoid arthritis. Called the EliA CCP Assay, it measures the patient’s blood for cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies. The presence of these antibodies in the blood is a clear indicator of rheumatoid arthritis. Phadia US Inc has developed the tool as a more accurate alternative to the older laboratory tests. According to Michael Land, president and general manager, the clearance makes “a new test with superior performance characteristics” accessible to healthcare professionals.

Across the globe, in Australia, the firm Fermiscan is in the final stages of developing a test for breast cancer that will determine the presence of the disease by analyzing the patient’s hair. When the hair is exposed to a high-powered X-ray beam in a synchrotron, radiologists can examine the image for tiny structural changes that will help to detect breast cancer. It was proved to be more effective than mammograms as mammograms are not quite accurate when trying to diagnose breast cancer in young women.

Meanwhile, a test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease may soon become a reality. Using the cutting-edge process proteomics, researchers compared protein levels in the blood of the patients with those of healthy older people. These researchers, based at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, found that levels of two specific types of proteins are quite high in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. A blood test analyzing these levels would be able to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease even before the symptoms occur. This will aid the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Brain research takes a few steps forward

Researchers from the University of Washington, USA, have found that autism is connected to the inept communication system between different parts of the brain. A study of EEG (electroencephalography) of 36 adults, half of whom were autistic, revealed that the brain cell connection patterns in the temporal lobe were abnormal in the case of autistic adults. According to Dr Michael Murias, team leader, the poorly coordinated neural activity showed weak internal communication between different parts of the brain.

Meanwhile, researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, New Jersey, have pioneered a technique that could restore certain abilities in semi conscious head trauma victims. The technique, known as deep-brain stimulation, was successfully tried on one patient. The patient’s ability to move, respond and function significantly improved after six months’ treatment. The technique is a landmark achievement with the potential to help thousands of others in a similar state.

In a separate incident, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the expanded use of Aricept. Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) can now be used to treat severe dementia in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The approval was granted on the basis of two randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies conducted in Sweden and Japan. The trials lasting for 24 weeks each involved more than 500 patients with severe AD. An evaluation of the patients’ cognitive functions as well as their overall functioning found that the drug helped the patients to perform better when compared to those on a placebo.

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Discoveries better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease

Separate studies carried out by researchers have greatly contributed to the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease research and a possible treatment.

American researchers have found out why aging increases one’s chances of falling victim to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and The Scripps Research Institute, California, conducted a study on worms and found that slowing the aging process could slow down the build up of beta-amyloid, which is the most likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found two important proteins, which can help in preventing Alzheimer’s. The protein HSF-1 breaks apart the amyloid and disposes it. As a person ages, it loses its ability to effectively clear the protein. The other protein DAF-16 clumps the protein together, thus making it less toxic. The researchers hope that these findings will help develop an effective treatment.

In a separate study, researchers have discovered that deficits in certain neurological and psychological areas are strong indicators of the conversion to Alzheimer's disease in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. The researchers from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York differentiated a group of patients according to the type of mild cognitive impairment present and studied whether baseline neuropsychological measures were predictive of the conversion. Various tests conducted finally helped them develop a predictive model that was 86 per cent accurate in predicting the conversion to Alzheimer’s disease.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that galantamine, which is used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, could be used to protect soldiers, emergency medical personnel, farm workers, and others exposed to organophosphorus compounds. The discovery is significant as the only other treatment available so far, pyridostigmine, is ineffective in crossing the blood-brain barrier.

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Diagnostic research underway for neurodegenerative and kidney diseases

Significant studies conducted by American researchers have increased the potential of diagnostic testing.

Researchers at the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center have found a way to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in their early stages. In a large multi-site study, the researchers used the proteomics system iTRAQ to identify and link more than 1,500 potential biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with one of three neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, the study will have to be conducted on a much larger scale before it could play its part in a diagnostic tool.

Researchers are also on their way to developing a skin test that could detect Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists from the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in Maryland have discovered chemical changes that distinguish patients with early Alzheimer's from those with other neurodegenerative disorders. They found that the inflammatory chemical bradykinin produced chemical changes in the brain and skin cells of Alzheimer’s patients, which were different from those of patients suffering from diseases like Parkinson’s. These changes were best visible in the two enzymes ERK1 and ERK2. The researchers hope that the findings will lead to a non-invasive test for Alzheimer’s disease.

Meanwhile, researchers from San Francisco VA Medical Center have found that measuring the levels of cystatin C is a more accurate way to diagnose kidney disease than the standard kidney function test, which considers creatinine. They measured levels of cystatin C and creatinine in blood samples from 4,663 people, age 65 and older, and matched those results with health outcomes up to nine years later. It was found that those with high cystatin C levels were three times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and 40 per cent more likely to suffer heart failure.

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Renewed hope for Alzheimer’s and MS sufferers

Separate studies by Australian and British scientists have found ways to offer patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a chance to live a normal life.

Researchers from the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Melbourne, have developed a drug that could halt the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical tests on animals have found that the drug PBT2 attacks the build up of the protein amyloid. The drug thus causes the amyloid levels to drop drastically by 60 per cent within 24 hours of a dose. The pill has been formulated in conjunction with Prana Biotechnology and is meant to be taken once in a day. Researchers hope that they can replicate this effect in humans. Human trials of the drug are expected to start next month.

Meanwhile, British scientists from the Walton Center for Neurology, Liverpool, have pioneered a treatment regime for MS that involves a limited course of the chemotherapy drug Mitoxantrone, followed by the MS anti-attack drug Copaxone. A small-scale five-year study found that patients with the aggressive form of MS had a reduced relapse rate of 90 per cent under the regime. This success has resulted in a full study being initiated in ten centers. Research leader Dr Mike Boggild cautioned that the treatment regime has certain risks, associated particularly with the use of Mitoxantrone. Also, the regime cannot reverse the damage and can only possibly halt further degeneration. The results of the study will be published in the August edition of the Journal of Neurology.