Discovery may lead to cures for neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers at the University of Leicester in Britain, discovered the first chemical substance able to prevent the death of brain tissue in cases of diseases that cause degeneration of neurons, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. To the discovery reach patients, it is still required to be developed a drug substance.

In tests with mice in the laboratory, scientists identified the substance can prevent brain cell death caused by prion diseases that affect brain structures and other neural tissues, which can reach the nervous system of both humans and animals. The staff of the Medical Research Council's Toxicology Unit University prioritized the natural defense mechanisms formed in brain cells.

The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, shows that the compound was originally developed for a different purpose, but was able to enter the brain from the bloodstream and stop the disease. However, the substance, and protects the brain caused weight loss in mice with diabetes due to damage in the pancreas.

The researchers studied mice with prion disease because these mice currently provide the best representation of animals in human neurodegenerative diseases, in which the accumulation of misfolded proteins is related to the death of brain cells.

According to team leader, Professor Giovanna Mallucci, the previous study has predicted that this pathway could be a target for the protection of brain cells in neurodegenerative diseases. The treatment needs to be improved for use in humans.

"We are still far from a useful drug for humans this compound has serious side effects. But [it is important] the fact that we have established that this pathway can be manipulated to protect against loss of brain cells. Firstly, with genetic tools, and now, with a compound means that the development of drug treatments targeting this pathway for prion and other neurodegenerative diseases is a real possibility, "said Giovanna Mallucci.

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