Scientists find enzyme that may help slow Alzheimer's

Published on Sunday 6 June 2010 22:12

A PROTEIN that controls brain activity may offer hope of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, say scientists.

Researchers have pinpointed the role of a key enzyme – GSK3 – and say the discovery could lead to new drugs that would help to slow memory loss and calm the symptoms of epileptic seizures.

Scientists analysed the way brain cells communicate at times of peak activity when electrical signalling by the brain's neurons is increased. They found the GSK3 enzyme helps to suppress brain activity by reducing the flow of chemical messengers between brain cells.

This raises the possibility that drugs could be developed to block the effect of this enzyme, increasing chemical messaging between brain cells, which could help to protect memory and slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Conversely, researchers also said drugs could be developed to boost the effect of the enzyme, potentially slowing brain activity in epilepsy patients and reducing the effects of seizures.

Dr Mike Cousin, of the University of Edinburgh, which led the research, said: "Until now, we understood that this enzyme was important for brain cell function, but we did not fully appreciate why. This study shows that GSK3 plays a crucial part in controlling brain function during peak activity.

"The development of drugs to act on the enzyme could make a real difference to the lives of people with brain disorders."

But the team warned that because GSK3 is linked to a range of body and brain functions, more research is needed to establish what the effects of manipulating this enzyme might be.

The study is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.