The researchers at UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) in South Korea are on their way of making history in medical science. They have reportedly found a new way to treat people suffering from the Alzheimer's disease.
According to the United Press International, the researchers have created a metal-based substance that helps to cut out the "amyloid-beta" protein vital, an essential element for the development of the Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is considered to be the sixth leading cause of death in older adults and is one of the most common forms of dementia. Though the exact cause is unknown, the formation of "neuritic plaques" in the brains of patients suffering from the Alzheimer's disease is claimed to be a result of the aggregation of the amyloid-beta protein.
Researchers found that the toxicity of the amyloid-beta protein can be reduced by "hydrolyzing" (a process of splitting molecule apart using water). The process requires the usage of a crystal structure called tetra-N methylated cyclam, or TMC, which can reduce the toxicity in amyloid-beta protein. The researchers used cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc and placed at the center of the TMC structure and found that the metal complex potentially penetrated the blood-brain barrier and eventually lowered the "hydrolyzing".
According to 9 News, a drug named "Leukine" has the properties that make it an ideal drug against the Alzheimer's disease. Generally, when the amyloid-beta protein in the brain is targeted, there is a possibility that changes in the brain can occur, such as small hemorrhages, swelling or edema, leading to quite a bit of cognitive difficulty. While using "Leukine", no evidence of this type of abnormalities in the brain of the people using it have been found so far by the researchers.
The researchers are also of the opinion that "Leukine" can not only prevent Alzheimer's, but also help the brain in restoring cognitive abilities by doing necessary repairs. Also, MRI scans of the people's brains using this drug have shown that there is a significant rise in better cognitive abilities among the patients.
Looking at the future, which the researchers claim will see more patients of the Alzheimer's disease, "Leukine" can be a good solution. It already has FDA approval and has been effectively administered to half-a-million people. "Leukine" is also being looked at as a potential drug for the "Parkinson's" disease.
