Effectively stopped destroying brain cells of AD

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Scientists from St. Andrews University, Scotland, say they have developed a compound that has effectively stopped the disease from destroying brain cells. They say that the compound also seems to improve damaged memory and cognitive ability.

Kirsty Muirhead, a PhD student tries to design man-made compounds that stop ABAD (Amyloid Beta Alcohol Dehydrogenase), an enzyme, from triggering several biochemical reactions that result in the destruction of brain cells. Muirhead's research, says the Alzheimer's Research Trust, may bring us one step closer to developing an effective Alzheimer's therapy.

In a healthy person, ABAD helps produce energy in the brain. However, in Alzheimer's patients, a protein called amyloid beta binds to it and triggers damaging biochemical reactions that destroy brain cells. Dr. Gunn-Moore and his team have been able to identify a compound that stops ABAD from sticking to amyloid beta in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Muirhead's aim is to find other compounds which might stop amyloid beta from sticking to ABAD and test how effective they are. Part of the research will also involve checking for safety and finding the inhibitor with the best potential for future therapy for humans.

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posted YVN