Lowering Blood Levels of Beta-Amyloid to Treat Alzheimer's

A study has found that lowering the blood levels of beta-amyloid in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease decreased the number of brain plaques and may be safer than the vaccine method of therapy. The study was published in the January 1, 2003, issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

Scientists injected gelsolin, a beta-amyloid binding agent, into the peripheral bloodstreams of 13 mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease. Sham injections were also performed in 16 other mice with the same genetic background. The injections were given every two days for three weeks. Upon examination, the brains of mice receiving gelsolin had significantly less beta-amyloid protein than those in the other group and fewer brain plaques. Use of another beta-amyloid binding agent, ganglioside GM1, produced similar results.

"We do not advocate using these particular agents as treatments for Alzheimer's disease in humans,” said co-author Karen Duff, Ph.D., of the Center for Dementia Research at New York University (NY, USA). "Rather, we see this as an initial step in the development of compounds that act in this manner, and as proof-of-concept for a prophylactic approach that may be more flexible, more reliable, and less likely to cause side effects in long-term administration paradigms than immunization-based therapies.”


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