Alzheimer's Treatment Improved With Inhibitor Molecule

Researchers at the University of Cambridge may be a bit closer to finding a cure for Alzheimer's.

"A great deal of work in this field has gone into understanding which microscopic processes are important in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Now we are now starting to reap the rewards of this hard work," said Samuel Cohen, a researcher at St John's College at Cambridge University, in a news release. "Our study shows, for the first time, one of these critical processes being specifically inhibited, and reveals that by doing so we can prevent the toxic effects of protein aggregation that are associated with this terrible condition."

Alzheimer's occurs when proteins known as amyloid fibrils cling to healthy proteins that wear down cognitive function. Findings showed that the molecule Brichos helped to prevent hostile cell clusters from forming.

Proteins are responsible for various important tasks. However, when their function is interrupted, there is an increased risk of disease and disorders. This happens when oligomers are formed, otherwise known as a deadly reaction that leads to clustered cells.

Now, researchers are hoping to find the molecules that have similar effects and work towards using them to develop groundbreaking new therapies. 

"In terms of curing Alzheimer's we are still a long way away but it at least found molecules that could help us on that course," Cohen concluded. "We are confident we are making progress towards a cure and steps like this are really pushing open new avenues that could develop new drugs. There are a lot of people doing great research and there is optimism that one day we can beat it."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.