New Brain Pill May Prevent Alzheimer's
Scientists have isolated a gene in mice that reverses several degenerative mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's, and gives them a “super memory.”
The similarity between mice brains and human brains could soon lead to a brain pill for humans.
"If we were to find an inhibitor, a molecule, a drug that will specifically block PKR, we should be able to do the same in humans," Maura Costa-Mattioli, leader of the study at Baylor University, told the Vancouver Sun. "And we did."
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Both human brains and mouse brains release the PKR gene, a gene triggered by the onset of Alzheimer's. The new gene scientists have discovered in mice can block the release of PKR, which may reverse the progress of degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's.
The researchers conducted a series of memory tests on PKR-deficient mice. In the tests, mice with a PKR deficiency picked up on patterns and remembered them on their first try, as opposed to their counterparts, who took days to remember the puzzle.
Costa-Mattioli told the Vancouver Sun the study’s goal is to help people with memory problems, not create a people with super-memory.
"Let's say we'd compare with Viagra. People use Viagra at whatever age, let's say 60, 65. But someone who is 40 goes to buy it, they can get it. But this is not our goal. Our goal would be to treat people who have a memory problem."
Researchers discovered that by genetically suppressing PKR in mice, the immune molecule gamma interferon increases communication between neurons. The increased neuron communication improves memory and brain function, Costa-Mattioli told the Vancouver Sun.
