New research at the University of San Luis (USA) has achieved through an experiment with mice, completely reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a newly created molecular compound .
The newly developed compound has been named OL-1 (antisense oligonucleotide) and was tested in genetically modified mice to develop Alzheimer’s . As a control group, they used a random antisense compound to see the response of another group of mice also with Alzheimer’s symptoms. After injecting the OL-1 compound into the first group, the researchers found that Alzheimer’s symptoms disappeared, including brain swelling and learning and memory deficits.
All the mice underwent a series of tests to measure learning, memory and logical behavior (such as recognizing an object or finding their way through a maze). The group injected with a random compound did not show any improvement as expected. The group of mice to which OL-1 had been distributed demonstrated an improvement in learning and memory .
The study, which has been published in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease , explains that the compound works by blocking messenger RNA that stimulates the production of excess beta-amyloid protein , a hallmark that causes Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our findings reinforce the importance of the beta-amyloid protein in the process of Alzheimer’s disease. They suggest that an antisense that targets the beta-amyloid protein precursor is a potential therapy to explore to reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, “says Susan Farr, leader of the study.
