Int. J. Mol. Sci: New study could help relieve Alzheimer's disease

November 17, 2020 // -- Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in the world, characterized by learning disabilities, memory loss, confusion and anxiety, and other behavioral and psychological symptoms.
important progress has been made in understanding physiological pathology since Arois Alzheimer described the first case in the early 20th century, but unfortunately no effective treatment has been developed.
the cause of Alzheimer's disease is unclear, but some studies claim that the accumulation of A-beta peptides and tau proteins in the normal brain plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
addition, it is worth noting that there is crosstalk between A beta peptides and tau proteins, which means that a decrease or increase in one of them may affect the content of the other.
, many studies have attempted to explore therapies that reduce beta and tau proteins.
, however, the use of full-length antibodies against A-beta has not been effective in improving cognitive decline and has had serious side effects in the case of neuroinstitiveness.
(Photo: Www.pixabay.com) In a previous study, the protein design and immunotherapy team at the UAB Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, led by Professor Sandra Villegas, developed an antibody fragment scFv-h3D6 that lowers A-beta levels and improves memory loss in young Alzheimer's model mice.
, however, what happens in the late stages of the disease has never been studied.
recently published in the University of New York, researchers have shown that scFv-h3D6 can also effectively reduce A-beta levels in older mice with the most advanced pathology.
interesting is that the decrease in A-beta due to scFv dosing also results in a decrease in total tau levels and does not cause any detectable side effects.
, a slight decrease in neuro-inflammation characterized by the AD brain was observed.
therefore, treatment is effective and safe.
point of this study is that we have shown that antibody fragment therapy can play a role in the advanced stages of the disease, not only reducing the main molecule of Alzheimer's disease, A beta, but also reducing tau levels.
," explains Sandra Villegas.
further research into the pathology of A-beta and tau may help develop pharmacological methods to treat this devastating disease.
() Source: Scientists succeed in reducing the levels of the people that kill neurons in elderly mice with Alzheimer's Original source: Alejandro R. Roda et al. Both Amyloid-β Peptide and Tau Protein Are Affected by an Anti-Amyloid-β Antibody Fragment in Elderly 3xTg-AD Mice, International Journal of Sciences Molecular (2020). DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186630