A
new study describes an innovative strategy that reverses symptoms in the
neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson.
Well, at least in fruit flies which had been genetically altered to model the
diseases.
These common neurodegenerative disorders cause untold suffering to millions of
patients and their families. Treatments for these diseases are limited, and no
cures exist.
"The novel approach we used has significant translational
implications," said one of the lead researcher, Robert Schwarcz.
"If we can duplicate these effects in patients, we could benefit a lot of
people," he added.
Schwarcz, in collaboration with geneticist Flaviano Giorgini at the University
of Leicester, focused on metabolites related to the amino acid tryptophan.
When tryptophan degrades in the body, it breaks down into several compounds
that have biological activities in the nervous system. One of these,
3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), has neurotoxic properties whereas another, named
kynurenic acid (KYNA), has the ability to prevent nerve cell degeneration.
The relative abundance of these two compounds in the brain may be critical in
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and also Huntington's disease.
The next steps will involve testing of the new concept in humans and to examine
whether the treatment works for neurodegenerative diseases.
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