Experimental Drug to Treat Dementia Progresses to Human Trials

Jul, 2021 - By SMI

An experimental dementia-fighting drug is ready to move for human trials as it was observed to be essential in treating certain neurodegenerative diseases after preclinical tests.

Many researches were performed to produce a drug for treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases. After many years of research and preclinical test, the outcomes illustrate that the novel drug is credible in treating certain neurological diseases as it reduces neurodegeneration signs and also improves cognition. Recently, researchers from Tohoku University, Japan, declared that a new type of experimental drug is ready to move forward with human clinical trials.

The researchers developed a therapeutic molecule, which is T-type calcium channel enhancer, to treat neurological disorders, known as SAK3. This molecule releases two neurotransmitters, dopamine and acetylcholine, to improve cognition and reduces the activity of neurodegenerative cells. It also restricts amyloid proteins to grow, which is often involved in progress of Alzheimer’s. Perhaps the new study mainly looked up to Lewy Body Dementia after Alzheimer’s, which is a neurological disorder developed by misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins within the brain.

The research study was publicized in the International Journal of Molecular Science. Kohji Fukunaga, an author of the study, pointed out SAK3 to be an effective drug in destroying misfolded alpha-synuclein protein and improving the natural ability of brain neurons. SAK3 administration prevents cognitive impairment and resists the neurodegenerative behaviour in motor dysfunction in brain. Fukunaga also said that the creation of this therapeutic drug is a huge discovery as it is found that it treats these neurological diseases credibly and enhances brain functioning in preclinical tests.