Specialists from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) have begun preclinical trials of a new drug for dementia that can not only relieve symptoms, but also restore impaired cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. During preclinical tests on mice with artificially induced pathology, it was found that the new substance significantly improves memory and learning ability by stimulating the formation of new neural connections in the brain, Izvestia writes. The developers claim that there are no analogues in the world yet.
«A protein complex called cerebrolysin, partly similar to the new development, is obtained from the brain of pigs, so it can cause a very strong immune reaction in humans. Drugs that inhibit various receptors and antibodies to beta–amyloid have also been developed, but all of them have failed clinical trials», — Diana Salikhova, head of the Laboratory of Cellular Biotechnology at the RUDN University, told the publication.
She says the existing remedies only relieve some of the symptoms of the disease, but not all of them. In search of a new drug to restore brain function, scientists have turned their attention to glial cells, which are necessary for the body to protect neurons.
«First we take the stem cells, differentiate them and obtain a precursor of glial tissue, and then we extract proteins and extracellular vesicles from the glial cell. The vesicles have a therapeutic effect, but they contain a whole range of different substances, and further research will show which of them is active», — Salikhova explained.
The developers are currently at the initial stage of preclinical trials. However, it will take many more years to create a drug that can be used in clinical practice. Experts interviewed by the publication believe that the development of RUDN University specialists can be effective at the pre-dementia stages, as well as for prevention. They believe that the drug might contribute to a more independence in everyday activities, as well as to continuation of a professional activity.
Dementia can be caused by a number of diseases that gradually destroy nerve cells and damage the brain, which usually leads to a decrease in cognitive function (the ability to process information) to a greater extent than could be expected as a result of the usual biological aging.
According to a survey conducted by the NAFI analytical center commissioned by the social project Деменция.net, the level of awareness about dementia among Russians continues to grow and has reached almost 80%. Almost all respondents consider it necessary to consult a doctor at the first sign of the disease, but a third of the surveyed persons do not know which specialists deal with the issue.
