The single pill that can treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and MS

By John von Radowitz
Published on 25/07/2012 00:00

A SINGLE pill has the potential to treat multiple brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, scientists have revealed.

Researchers have developed a new class of drug which can be taken orally and prevents the damaging effects of inflammation in the brain.

Early results from animal studies suggest it could be effective against a plethora of devastating brain conditions, which include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), motor neurone disease, frontotemporal dementia, and complications from traumatic brain injury.

Two of the drugs, known as MW151 and MW189, have been patented by US scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago. They work by blocking excess production of damaging molecules called pro-inflammatory cytokines.

New research showed how early treatment with MW151 prevented the development of full-blown Alzheimer’s in laboratory mice.

Scientists say the drugs offer a completely different approach to treating the disease. These target the accumulation of beta amyloid protein deposits in the brain, a key feature of Alzheimer’s. In contrast the new drugs are designed to stop inflammation disrupting wiring in the brain and killing neurons.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause the synapses, the connections between brain cells, to misfire. Eventually the whole organisation of the brain falls into disarray and neurons die.

“In Alzheimer’s disease, many people now view the progression from mild cognitive impairment to full-blown Alzheimer’s as an indication of malfunctioning synapses, the pathways that allow neurons to talk to each other,” said Professor Martin Watterson, one of the study leaders at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School.

“High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines can contribute to synaptic malfunction.”

Mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s were given MW151 three times a week starting at six months of age. A comparable stage in humans would be when a patient begins to experience mild mental decline.

At 11 months, by which time the mice should have developed full-blown Alzheimer’s, cytokine levels in the brains of the animals were found to be back to normal. Their synapses were also working normally. Untreated mice had abnormally high brain levels of cytokines and their synapses were misfiring.

Co-author Dr Linda Van Eldik, director of the Sanders-Brown Centre on Aging at the University of Kentucky, said: “Giving this drug before Alzheimer’s memory changes are at a late stage may be a promising future approach to therapy.”