Scientists discovered a new lead of drug development to treat and prevent the degenerative Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at USC Davis School Gerontology published a new study in The Journal of Neuroscience the potential solutions inclucing the monumental drug development against Alzheimer's disease.

"Our data suggests the possibility of drugs that can prevent and treat Alzheimer's. It's just mouse data but extremely encouraging mouse data," said by the lead author professor and lab principal Christian Pike of USB Davis School of Gerontology.

TSOP ligands are drugs currently used for male mice that were genetically modified to develop Alzheimer's disease. TSPO's key mechanism is to increase production of steroid hormones to ensure mice had low levels of testosterone and related hormones before any treatment.

"We looked at the effects of TSPO ligand in young adult mice when pathology was at an early stage and in aged mice when pathology was quite severe. TSPO ligand reduced measures of pathology and improved behaviour at both ages," according to Christian Pike.

The findings suggest a possibility of TSPO ligand to reverse components of Alzheimer's and has very high potential to be useful in treatment.

"TSPO ligands are currently used in humans in certain types of neuroimaging. Newer TSPO ligands are at the clinical trials stage of development for treatment of anxiety and other conditions. There is a strong possibility that TSPO ligands similar to the ones used in our study could be evaluated for therapeutic efficacy in Alzheimer's patients within the next few years," Christian Pike said.

With this new light in the study of Alzheimer's disease, Pike and his team will next focus on understanding how TSPO ligands reduce Alzheimer's disease pathology and increase the production of neuroactive hormones in the brain.

Alzheimer's Disease

It is the most common form of dementia and currently no cure yet has been developed for the disease. Alzheimer's progresses and eventually leads to the death of the patient.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Forgetfulness of recent events the most common symptom associated with the disease. Diagnosis includes evaluation of behaviour, thinking abilities and then brain scanning. Advance stage symptoms include confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, language trouble and long-term memory loss.

Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

There is no concrete explanation about the real cause of the disease except for the small percentage in genetic differences. Hypothesis such as cholinergic related to neuroinflammation, amyloid which is considered to be a fundamental cause, tau proteins causing abnormalities and herpes simplex playing a causative role to the disease.

Prevention and Treatment

No definitive prevention yet supports effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease. Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and smoking is associated with the disease.

In diet, Alzheimer's risk may be reduced by fruits, vegetables, bread, wheat, olive oil, fish and red wine. Some vitamins such as C, E, B12, and B9 are not supported as recommended preventive measures due to lack of evidence.

New Study: Vitamin B

A latest study shows that elderly people at risk of AD may take vitamin B supplements and folic acid to reduce brain atrophy which is associated to 90 per cent of Alzheimer cases. Preventing Alzheimer's disease-related gray matter atrophy by B-Vitamin Treatment is the published journal determining the effects of high dosage consumption of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid.

The study found out that these vitamins taken in high dosage protects an individual from brain shrinkage which mostly occurring on Alzheimer development. Initial results revealed 50 per cent less whole-brain shrinkage in 156 patients with ages 70 years old or more consuming high doses of vitamin B compared to patients taking placebo pills.