A new study builds new hope to an effective treatment that may help stop Alzheimer’s disease. British scientists presented new evidence as they are able to halt brain cell death in mice.
The researchers from the Medical Research Council (MRC) did experimental procedures on mice in which they had them ingest a chemical compound from a tube.
The mice were first given abnormal prion proteins which causes a very similar neurodegenerative disease. This is the closest disease that has been recognized in animals.
The mice were assigned into two groups: the first ingested with the medication, the second had to undergo the usual untreated course of the disease.
After over a month, the first group showed signs of slowed brain cell damage and lived longer than the other group. The second however manifested the usual symptoms of impaired reflexes, memory loss, and limb-dragging.
"We were extremely excited when we saw the treatment stop the disease in its tracks and protect brain cells, restoring some normal behaviours and preventing memory loss in the mice,” said lead researcher Giovanna Mallucci to Sky News.
The treated mice however showed side effects like high blood sugar and sudden weight loss.
British researchers believe that this new study provides a major milestone in the health sciences, particularly in the neurodegenerative diseases. However, they admitted that they will need further research to prove the effectiveness of the treatment before they test it to humans. The drug still needs to be modified to lessen side effects and more importantly, it needs to go through trial procedures to be permitted for human ingestion.
Researchers may need 10 more years to complete the research and have the drug released for public use.
The study was published in the online journal Science Translational Medicine.
