News & Events
New chemical agent effectively eliminates protein dies in neurodegeneration
- May 30, 2020
- Posted by: Wiley M. Wagner
- Category: Science
Despite the fact that while scientists still find it difficult to answer the question of what exactly triggers the neurodegenerative process in the case of diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, still the presence of a large number of so-called amyloid dies in the brain of patients is considered something like the main marker of this disease and its dynamics. That is why a team of neuroscientists from the University of Illinois in the USA today presented the results of their promising study on the possibility of effectively combating the accumulation of these dies and metal ions, also found in large quantities.
The study is about the creation and preliminary testing of a new multidirectional chemical agent called L1, which previously demonstrated the rather promising use of harmful metals and amyloid dies in the brain of patients suffering from various neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the new agent in preliminary experiments was able to effectively eliminate most of the ions of metals such as zinc and cadmium under laboratory conditions, and also showed a tendency to eliminate a large number of harmful protein dies.
Colorful vector illustration of scientists researching brain and psychology of human on blue background
Despite the fact that the detection of protein dies in the brain of a patient suffering from neurodegeneration in itself does not mean the need to eliminate them, however, their influence is undeniable in the context of the further course of the disease – and it is most difficult to deal with them in the later stages of such diseases. At this point in time, specialists continue research on the possibility of improving this compound, since it is one of the most effective among the previously tested.
It is worth noting that the neurodegenerative class of diseases somehow has its own diagnostic problems – in particular, it is sometimes confused with some other types of organic brain lesions. For this reason, specialists from the University of Illinois strive to conduct as many tests of the new agent and make it as safe as possible.