A novel drug combination has demonstrated the potential to reverse cognitive decline in laboratory mice exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The research, a collaborative effort between Colorado State University (CSU) and Colorado-based biotech company Sachi Bio, targets neuroinflammation, a critical factor in brain aging and Alzheimer's. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, suggest that this treatment could be a "game-changing tool" in combating Alzheimer's.
The experimental treatment involves a combination of drugs designed to modulate two brain proteins implicated in neuroinflammation. Devin Wahl, a CSU postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the study, emphasized the current lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer's, stating, "There are no effective treatments right now. We have treatments that can manage symptoms, but we don’t have any that can stop the disease. We want to try to identify novel treatments that may be effective to slow, or even reduce, the effects of Alzheimer’s disease."
The study assessed memory and grip strength in mice, with grip strength serving as an indicator of brain function. Prashant Nagpal, co-founder of Sachi Bio, highlighted the significance of the findings: "This is a novel and effective treatment to improve memory in mice. A very important finding that we saw in this study is that you can reverse some cognitive decline. We are hoping to take this to human clinical trials next year."
Targeting Early Stages of Cognitive Decline
The researchers believe that intervening early in the disease process is crucial. Wahl noted, "If we can target what comes before Alzheimer’s disease, which is what this drug is meant to do, that will give people more treatment options, especially earlier in life." The drug is designed to target the processes leading up to Alzheimer's, potentially offering a preventative or disease-modifying approach.
Future Clinical Trials
Sachi Bio anticipates initiating human clinical trials within the next year or two. Nagpal expressed the personal motivation behind the research, stating, "We’ve all been touched by seeing older parents and family members just being a shadow of themselves. It’s just heartbreaking. It may seem like just a glimmer of hope, but can you latch onto it and just, you know, go for it?"
