Researchers at Purdue University are exploring new ways to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Type 2 diabetes.
They’re developing special compounds that could stop the clumping of proteins linked to these diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large number of Americans suffer from these conditions. Nearly 38 million have diabetes, most of which is Type 2, and millions live with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
Leading this research is Jessica Sonia Fortin, an expert at Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery.
Her team focuses on creating small molecules that can stop proteins from clumping together. This clumping is a common problem in these diseases.
In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, proteins like tau and alpha-synuclein build up in the brain, causing damage. In Type 2 diabetes, a hormone called islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) accumulates in the pancreas.
These clumps are harmful and can lead to various symptoms, from memory loss to movement issues.
Fortin’s approach is different from current treatments, which mainly ease symptoms. Her team aims to tackle the root cause by targeting these protein clumps.
They’re working on compounds that can both prevent new clumps and break down existing ones. This could be a major step forward in treating these diseases.
For Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, they’ve made a range of small molecules. These molecules have been tested in the lab and show promise in stopping the formation of harmful protein clumps.
They can cross into the brain in animal models, which is crucial for treating brain diseases. Fortin’s collaborator, Ulf Dettmer, has conducted cell-based tests showing these compounds can stop alpha-synuclein clumps from forming.
These Purdue compounds could be delivered in various ways, possibly combined with substances like lactose or mannitol.
This flexibility means they could be adapted for other similar brain diseases, like Huntington’s or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
For Type 2 diabetes, the team has found three compounds that inhibit IAPP clumping. These compounds work on both human and feline IAPP, and they’re safe for certain cell lines. Understanding how these molecules work will be key to developing them further.
The next steps for Fortin’s team are to refine these treatments and study how they work in the body. They’ve already seen promising signs, like the presence of these compounds in the brain after being injected into mice.
This research at Purdue is paving the way for new treatments for some of the most challenging diseases affecting millions worldwide. If successful, it could change the lives of those suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Type 2 diabetes.
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