New Agent Found to Suppress Cognitive Impairment of Alzheimer’s Disease

The lab rat’s spatial learning and memory were assessed in a Morris water maze. The pool was separated into four equal quadrants, and an escape platform was hidden below the surface at a fixed location in one of the quadrants.

The rats had to locate the platform within 60 seconds. The average time it took on day 4 for Aβ-treated rats to locate the platform was 55.05 seconds, though most of this group was not able to find it in the allotted time. Aβ rats treated with IRL-1620 were able to find the platform in 26.53 seconds, nearly 50% the time. After five days, Aβ rats treated with IRL-1620 showed a 60% improvement in learning and memory.

“Our research is based on the idea of using the endothelin [ET] system in the treatment of AD,” said Dr. Gulati. “The ET system is traditionally known to play a role in the regulation of blood flow. This is important in the potential treatment of AD since disturbances in blood flow could damage the brain’s ability to clear damaging particles, leading to a buildup of toxic substances and cognitive impairment.”

The next stage of the research is to additionally study the endothelin receptor type B’s mechanisms of neuroprotection and to look into possible resulting tissue changes following AD.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five medications to treat the symptoms of AD. Current agents help disguise the symptoms but do not treat the underlying disease. A breakthrough AD treatment would target the underlying disease and stop or delay the cell damage that ultimately leads to the aggravation of symptoms.

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