Post: A new drug shows promise for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Credit: Unsplash+ Scientists have discovered a potential new drug that could help people with Alzheimer’s disease by improving memory and repairing brain damage. The drug, called GL-II-73, was tested on mice and showed promising results in restoring cognitive function.

This breakthrough study was conducted by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and published in Neurobiology of Aging .

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious condition that affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. It causes memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior. As the disease progresses, it becomes harder for people to carry out daily activities. Despite years of research, there is no cure, and current treatments only provide temporary relief without stopping the disease from worsening.

For over a decade, Dr. Etienne Sibille and Dr. Thomas Prevot from CAMH have been studying how Alzheimer’s affects the brain. Their work has led to the discovery of GL-II-73, a drug that targets specific brain pathways linked to memory.

Unlike most Alzheimer’s treatments, which focus on reducing harmful beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, GL-II-73 works differently. It strengthens communication between brain cells by acting on GABA receptors in the hippocampus, an area important for learning and memory.

To test the drug, the scientists used mice that were genetically modified to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s. These mice experience memory problems similar to those seen in human patients.

The researchers divided them into groups, some receiving a single dose of GL-II-73 and others undergoing a longer, four-week treatment. They also included normal mice for comparison.

The results were impressive. Younger mice with early-stage Alzheimer’s symptoms showed a significant improvement in memory after just one dose. They performed as well as healthy mice in memory tests.

Older mice with more advanced symptoms also benefited, though their improvements were not as dramatic. This suggests that GL-II-73 is most effective when given early in the disease but can still help in later stages by partially restoring memory and repairing brain cells.One of the most exciting aspects of the study was that the drug helped grow and strengthen neural connections. This is crucial because Alzheimer’s disease gradually weakens the connections between brain cells, […]

A new drug shows promise for treating Alzheimer’s disease