UAMS Researchers Conduct Study to Improve Treatment Against Alzheimer’s
Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have made significant strides in their latest study, which focuses on improving treatment against Alzheimer’s disease. This groundbreaking research involves the use of an FDA-approved cholesterol drug, ezetimibe, which was previously approved in 2002. While the drug has an excellent safety record with few side effects, it has been largely replaced by statins in treating high cholesterol levels.
The UAMS research team, led by Akshatha Ganne, a postdoctoral fellow in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, has discovered that ezetimibe can disrupt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The researchers used 3D-analysis tools to map the sticky sites within typical aggregates and to discover which ones are most important for holding these clumps together. Computer simulations were then conducted to seek molecules that best disrupt the aggregation process.
This study is significant as it targets aggregates made up of tangled proteins commonly seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. These accumulations are considered key factors in the progression of most cognitive disorders. Moreover, the researchers found that such aggregates also occur in the brains of people with heart disease, which is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The potential implications of this study are substantial, suggesting a nearly eight-fold reduction in Alzheimer’s risk for people taking ezetimibe. UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with a comprehensive network of campuses and institutes dedicated to advancing medical research and patient care.
- Aggregate formations are key factors in cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Ezetimibe, an FDA-approved cholesterol drug, has been identified as a potential treatment for disrupting these aggregates.
- This study indicates a significant reduction in Alzheimer’s risk for individuals taking ezetimibe.
UAMS: A Leader in Alzheimer’s Research
In addition to this study, UAMS researchers have also made other significant breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research. Earlier this year, a research team led by Sue Griffin, Ph.D. discovered a potential new drug to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in people with the so-called Alzheimer’s gene, apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4). This finding includes discoveries of a druggable target and a drug candidate.
The Griffin-led research emphasizes the negative impact of APOEε4 on brain cells, which prevents them from disposing of waste products, a process known as lysosomal autophagy. Such disruption of autophagy leads to the formation of plaques and tangles in the brain, hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
The significance of UAMS researchers in advancing the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease cannot be overstated. Their groundbreaking discoveries continue to pave the way for potential life-changing treatments for millions of people affected by the disease.
