Scientists think they have nailed down key enzyme for Alzheimer's
(April 7, 1999 5:49 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Researchers
believe they have found a key enzyme that activates Alzheimer's, raising
hopes of someday finding a treatment for the mind-robbing disease that
afflicts an estimated 4 million Americans. The findings were published in
Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
One of the researchers, Dr. Dennis J. Selkoe, a neurologist at Brigham and
Women's Hospital in Boston, said scientists are "very much on the road" to
a treatment. He said drugs designed to block the enzyme could enter
clinical trials within three years.
But some scientists questioned whether the research team had identified the
actual enzyme or one that simply works in concert with it.
"The case is far from nailed either way," said John Hardy of the Mayo Clinic.
Alzheimer's patients are known to have toxic plaques, or buildups, of
amyloid beta proteins in their brains.
Selkoe, Michael S. Wolfe at the University of Tennessee, and others found
evidence suggesting that a previously known brain substance called
presenilin is the enzyme that controls production of amyloid beta proteins.
Scientists previously believed presenilin played a role in Alzheimer's.
Dr. Sam Gandy, a New York University cell biologist who works with amyloid
proteins, said the study offers "very exciting and persuasive evidence."
But he cautioned that the enzyme and the chemical on which it operates must
be purified and allowed to interact alone to be certain that other unseen
chemicals are not involved.
Researchers also warned that presenilin may regulate other processes, such
as the immune system, meaning that Alzheimer's drugs designed to inhibit
presenilin could carry unwanted side effects.
By JEFF DONN
Copyright 1999 Nando Media
Copyright 1999 Associated Press
http://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,35901-57823-422507-0,00.html
janet paterson - 52 now /41 dx /37 onset - almonte/ontario/canada
[log in to unmask]
Scan some of My Past Posts at:
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/janet/index.htm
Mine the PD List Archives at:
http://james.parkinsons.org.uk/
Cull Nine Million Pub-Med Medical Studies at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/
Comb the 'People With Parkinson's' Web-Ring at:
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=parkie;list
