A
novel combined experimental therapy in an Alzheimer's transgenic model
Investigator(s): A.
Claudio Cuello, MD, DSc, FRSC
Institution(s):
McGill University, Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Duration: 2008 - 2009
A
number of strategies have been designed to lower the
levels of amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease (AD), in particular in the form
of oligomers
(molecular repeats of the Aβ amyloid protein. The investigator's
laboratory has been
able to repeat earlier work that reported partial clearance of Aβ in a
transgenic model of
AD using a compound called scyllo-inositol. In addition, the PI's laboratory
has also
revealed that the normal function of the neuroprotective nerve growth factor
(NGF) is
perturbed in transgenic models of AD and in AD human brain samples. This new
finding
may explain the selective vulnerability of NGF-dependent neurons involved in
learning
and memory to AD pathology. Preliminary data indicate that this dysfunction
can be
controlled pharmacologically in animal models of AD. The PI's group have
found
remarkable beneficial effects of treating this novel target in conjunction
with strategies
to remove Aβ oligomers. The objective of this research proposal is to
explore a novel
combined therapy attacking simultaneously these two targets.