In the fight against Alzheimer's, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a promising, preventative therapeutic approach. They specifically targeted the amyloid beta biomolecule, which triggers the hyperactivity of nerve cells typical of the brain disease in its early stages. The team led by Dr.
Benedikt Zott and Prof. Arthur Konnerth from the TUM School of Medicine and Health and Prof. Arne Skerra from the TUM School of Life Sciences succeeded in developing and using a that can suppress the effects of the harmful molecule.
The study is in . The results obtained on mice in the laboratory indicate that neuronal dysfunctions could even be repaired. The researchers hope that the protein they investigated, which experts call amyloid-beta-binding anticalin (H1GA), can halt the progression of the severe neurodegenerative disease at an early stage.
According to experts, there are an estimated 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, and most of them have Alzheimer's. Each year, about 10 million new cases are diagnosed. There is currently no medication to combat the basic mechanisms of the disease.
Only symptoms such as declining mental performance can be treated. Dr. Zott emphasizes, "We are still a long way from a therapy that can be used in humans, but the results in are very encouraging.
The effect of completely suppressing neuronal hyperactivity in the early stages of the is particularly remarkable." The researchers obtained the anticalin .