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Ishita Srivastava

Scientists Find New Drug That Slashes Alzheimer’s Buildup And Damage

Scientists have found a new potential way to treat Alzheimer’s disease and it's already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

Researchers at the the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that removing or reducing a specific brain cell enzyme, known as IDOL, can significantly lower the buildup of amyloid plaques while also helping the brain resist further damage.

As of now, Lecanemab and Donanemab drugs can help achieve this as they work by clearing these plaques from the brain and can help slow the progression of symptoms.

However, the researchers' new theory focuses on preventing plaque buildup in the first place, while also improving how brain cells communicate and process fats.

The scientists claim that enzymes such as IDOL are easier to target with drugs due to their well-defined structures, allowing them to design treatments that are more precise and potentially have fewer side effects. 

Kim, the P. Michael Conneally Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics: "What makes this exciting is that we now have a specific target that could lead to a new type of treatment. 

"We believe that IDOL will provide us with an alternative strategy to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting enzymes in drug development offers key advantages due to their well-defined active sites or ‘pockets’ where drugs can attach and block their activity. This precision means we can design molecules that hit the right target with minimal side effects."

Kim notes that the team now plans to explore several approaches to target IDOL as part of new Alzheimer’s treatments including testing the safety and effectiveness of potential compounds in preclinical models. 

The researchers will also study whether blocking IDOL can help preserve synaptic connections and reduce tau pathology, another key feature of the disease.

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/the-one-critical-thing-you-should-do-to-prevent-alzheimers-disease-article-153660339" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">The One Critical Thing You Should Do To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease</a>

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/alzheimers-disease">Alzheimer's disease</a> is one of the most common forms of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/dementia">dementia</a> and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.

Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. At the same time, tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the brain's neurons from sending electrical and chemical signals back and forth.

Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

There is no cure for this progressive brain disorder and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death.

<h2>Can You Detect Alzheimer's Early On?</h2>

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a blood test which can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in adults aged 55 and above.

The blood test, known as Lumipulse, can detect amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease and has proven to be a “less invasive option” that “reduces reliance on PET scans and increases diagnosis accessibility.”

FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary said of the landmark decision, "Alzheimer’s disease impacts too many people, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

"Knowing that 10 percent of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's, and that by 2050 that number is expected to double, I am hopeful that new medical products such as this one will help patients."

It remains unclear when this test will be available for commercial use across the world.

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Scientists have found a new potential way to treat Alzheimer’s disease and it's already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Researchers at the the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that removing or reducing a specific brain cell enzyme, known as IDOL, can significantly lower the buildup of amyloid plaques while also helping the brain resist further damage.As of now, Lecanemab and Donanemab drugs can help achieve this as they work by clearing these plaques from the brain and can help slow the progression of symptoms. However, the researchers' new theory focuses on preventing plaque buildup in the first place, while also improving how brain cells communicate and process fats.The scientists claim that enzymes such as IDOL are easier to target with drugs due to their well-defined structures, allowing them to design treatments that are more precise and potentially have fewer side effects. Kim, the P. Michael Conneally Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics: "What makes this exciting is that we now have a specific target that could lead to a new type of treatment. "We believe that IDOL will provide us with an alternative strategy to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting enzymes in drug development offers key advantages due to their well-defined active sites or ‘pockets’ where drugs can attach and block their activity. This precision means we can design molecules that hit the right target with minimal side effects."Kim notes that the team now plans to explore several approaches to target IDOL as part of new Alzheimer’s treatments including testing the safety and effectiveness of potential compounds in preclinical models. The researchers will also study whether blocking IDOL can help preserve synaptic connections and reduce tau pathology, another key feature of the disease.READ MORE: The One Critical Thing You Should Do To Prevent Alzheimer's DiseaseWhat Is Alzheimer’s Disease?Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. At the same time, tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the brain's neurons from sending electrical and chemical signals back and forth.Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them.While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation.Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.There is no cure for this progressive brain disorder and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death.Can You Detect Alzheimer's Early On?The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a blood test which can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in adults aged 55 and above.The blood test, known as Lumipulse, can detect amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease and has proven to be a “less invasive option” that “reduces reliance on PET scans and increases diagnosis accessibility.”FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary said of the landmark decision, "Alzheimer’s disease impacts too many people, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined."Knowing that 10 percent of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's, and that by 2050 that number is expected to double, I am hopeful that new medical products such as this one will help patients."It remains unclear when this test will be available for commercial use across the world.

scientists find new drug that slashes alzheimer’s buildup and damage eisai co.

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Health Conditions A-Z

This Blood Type Carries The Highest Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Scientists Find

Scientists Find New Drug That Slashes Alzheimer’s Buildup And Damage

Simple Brain Training Exercise Cuts Dementia Risk For 20 Years, Study Finds