Pill that may wash away the cause of Alzheimer's: Treatment dissolves toxic plaques on the brain that are warning sign of the disease
- Mice were genetically engineered to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s
- Animals in study also showed improvements in memory and learning
- More work to be carried out before EPPS drug can be tested on humans
- Treatment could be best for those at risk from inherited forms of disease
Scientists say they have taken the first steps towards developing a pill that could one day stop Alzheimer’s in its tracks.
The treatment, tested on mice, dissolved toxic plaques in the brain that can be a warning sign of the incurable disease.
The animals, genetically engineered to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s, also showed improvements in memory and learning.
Treatment: Scientists say they have taken the first steps towards developing a pill that could one day stop Alzheimer's in its tracks (file picture)
Experts say more work needs to be carried out before the drug, known as EPPS, can be tested on humans.
Korean researchers say the treatment could be best targeted at those at risk from inherited forms of the disease.
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But it may only be effective before symptoms appear, highlighting the need to find new ways to diagnose cases earlier.
Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the study team said: ‘Additional studies are warranted to determine whether these favourable actions of EPPS will translate into a therapy that might potentially be useful across a range of [Alzheimer’s] stages.’
EPPS is chemically similar to taurine, an ingredient of Red Bull and other energy drinks. Dr Frances Edwards, of University College London, said it could be a ‘very interesting drug indeed’.
Genetically engineered: The treatment, tested on mice, dissolved toxic plaques in the brain that can be a warning sign of the incurable disease. The animals also showed improvements in memory and learning
James Pickett, of the Alzheimer’s Society, added: ‘While new insights into potential ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease are welcome, in this case, it’s too early to say if this will one day benefit people living with Alzheimer’s.
‘This study has found a new chemical that could help to clear some forms of amyloid, the toxic protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
‘However, so far this has only been shown in mice, which do not fully replicate several of the important changes that we see in the brains and behaviours of people with dementia.’
And Tara Spires-Jones, from the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘This is a promising preclinical study in a few dozen mice that found a drug treatment that reduced levels of amyloid beta, one of the pathological proteins found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
'While very interesting, this potential treatment is a long way from human patients.’
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