Drug blocks Alzheimer's in mice, study says

Drug blocks Alzheimer's in mice, study says

(Courtesy of Duke University)


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DURHAM, North Carolina — Blocking an immune cell in the brain could prevent memory loss related to Alzheimer’s, according to a study published Wednesday.

Researchers at Duke University claim they were able to prevent memory loss and brain plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s in the brains of mice. They used a small-molecule drug to protect the brain from immune cells called microglia, which consume an important nutrient known as arginine in those who have the disease, according to the study.

“All of this suggests to us that if you can block this local process of amino acid deprivation, then you can protect — the mouse, at least — from Alzheimer’s disease,” study author Matthew Kan said in a statement.

When acting properly, microglia protects the brain from infection. But researchers said they observed the immune cells “begin to divide and change early in the disease” in the type of mouse that has an immune system similar to humans. The changing cells are “highly expressed in the regions of the brain involved in memory,” according to the study.

The mice performed better on memory tests if they were given the drug difluoromethylornithine before starting to show symptoms of Alzheimer's, researchers said. They also reported seeing fewer altered microglia and plaques develop in the brain.

The drug, also known as DFMO, hasn’t yet been tested as an Alzheimer's treatment for therapy in humans. However, it is being used in clinical trials as a treatment for cancer.

The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

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Natalie Crofts

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