Scientists have discovered a new drug that could blast toxic protein tangles in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's. The first-of-its-kind drug could provide fresh hope to millions living with the disease and has been developed by a team of international researchers and led by British experts. The drug is different as it tackles two hotspots of a protein that leads to the debilitating condition.
Drugs that have previously been developed only work only on one of the areas. The new medicine targets tau proteins which normally play a crucial role in maintaining brain cell health. In people with Alzheimer's disease, they clump together, starve brain cells of nutrients and slow down signals in the organ with memory and thinking ability becoming increasingly impaired.
Dr Anthony Aggidis, from University of Southampton is the author of a new paper on the drug RI-AG03. He said: “Our research represents an important step toward creating treatments that can prevent the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's disease,” reports MailOnline. Dr Aggidis added: “By targeting both of the key areas on the tau protein, this unique approach could help address the growing impact of dementia on society, providing a much-needed new option for treating these devastating diseases.
” The team, which also included experts from the US and Japan, have published the results of experiments with the drug in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Fruit flies with toxic.