- New research indicates that glaucoma drugs can prevent cognitive impairment linked to Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
- The drugs work by clearing amyloid beta from blood vessels, lowering inflammation, and improving cell function.
- Neuroscientists agree the results of the study are promising, however; further research is needed in humans.
One of the main warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain’s blood vessels. Amyloid beta is a protein that contributes to plaque buildup, which can impact the amount of nutrients and oxygen the brain receives.
Ultimately, this can cause cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a leading cause of cognitive decline among older adults.
To explore this concept further, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University investigated two FDA approved drugs to see if they mitigate the effects of CAA and cognitive decline in a model of Alzheimer’s.
They made an interesting discovery and found that glaucoma drugs prevent cognitive impairment linked to Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
The study was published in the journal
Researchers conducted this study with mice using carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs), which help treat other conditions including glaucoma and high-altitude sickness.
The drugs also help get rid of amyloid beta from blood vessels and glial cells, which ultimately helps prevent cognitive impairment, lowering inflammation and improving cell function.
Keiland Cooper, a doctoral researcher in cognitive science and neuroscience at the University of California, Irvine, explained to Medical News Today how amyloid beta affects the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Amyloid beta is a protein that is naturally produced in the brain. In the healthy brain, it is thought to play a role in neuronal development and synaptic plasticity,” said Cooper.
“However, in people with Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta can form plaques that build…
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