Leaky blood vessel drug treats Alzheimer’s
10 Jan 2011 by Evoluted New Media
Drugs currently used to treat leaky blood vessels could treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease say researchers in Bristol investigating the function of blood vessels in the brains of people with the disease.
Drugs currently used to treat leaky blood vessels could treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease say researchers in Bristol investigating the function of blood vessels in the brains of people with the disease.
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Alzheimer’s could be treated with medication for leaky blood vessels |
In Alzheimer’s, blood vessels do not adjust properly to changes in brain activity and blood pressure and can become too permeable, allowing harmful substance to leak from the bloodstream to the brain. Researchers have uncovered some of the processes responsible.
In a series of studies, the Bristol team found marked abnormalities in the system that helps to regulate blood vessel function. They also looked at an enzyme that helps to control blood flow and the leakiness of blood vessel walls and found the enzyme’s activity was increased in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
“The abnormalities we have found seem to be a reaction to the initial brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease, but they are likely to worsen the damage, diverting blood flow inappropriately and causing the vessels to become leaky,” said PhD student Emma Ashby.
Seth Love, professor of neuropathy said that although the impaired function of blood vessels in the brain in Alzheimer’s is well known, it has received little attention compared to other aspects of the disease.
“These findings give us hope for future research,” he said, “There are already drugs available that might prove beneficial and we should look to trial them.”
Although scientists think vascular problems are a symptom of the disease rather than a cause, drugs to treat these symptoms could improve brain function. Ashby said further study in this area is necessary.
The work was supported by dementia research charity the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. Head of the Trust, Dr Simon Ridley said: “These are promising results that tell us much more about the links between vascular problems and Alzheimer’s disease. It is vital that we invest more research in this area, to see whether drugs that target these symptoms could be helpful for people with dementia.”
