News Desk |
New insights into a specific gene variant may help to explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs work in certain people but may fail in others. The findings call for a more personalized approach to drug testing. According to research, an individual’s gene pool may explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs work and others fail.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease presents with the death of brain cells that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. The disease causes memory problems and a variety of related symptoms. It is a degenerative disease, which means the symptoms will get worse over time.
There are several distinct signs and symptoms of memory loss that may indicate Alzheimer’s:
- Memory loss that impedes daily activities
- Trouble completing everyday tasks
- Problem-solving or planning difficulties
- Problems with vision and spatial awareness (understanding one’s surroundings)
- Confusion about location and time
- Frequently misplacing items and not being able to retrace steps
- Problems writing or speaking
- Showing signs of poor judgment
- Mood or personality changes
- Stepping away from social or work activities
There is no standard test to diagnose Alzheimer’s, so a doctor will make a diagnosis based on several factors like, said symptoms, family history, neurological exams etc. No disease-modifying drugs are available for Alzheimer’s disease, but some drugs capable of reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life are available.
A major Alzheimer’s conference has revealed simple tips to lower your risk of the disease, which has affected an estimated 5.8 million Americans. New research shows exercise, a healthy diet, & work outside the home can improve future brain health, regardless of your genetic risk. pic.twitter.com/UbfUIBASKz
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 17, 2019
Current studies
Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Kinga Szigeti, Ph.D., who is the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at the University of Buffalo, NY, found a key gene that helped explain why some Alzheimer’s drugs showed promise in animal models but failed in humans.
In other words, one drug may work well for 25% of people with Alzheimer’s, but fail in the remaining 75%, and vice versa.
The gene is called CHRFAM7A, and it is specific to humans, although only 75% of people have it. It is a so-called fusion gene — that is, a fusion between a gene that encodes a receptor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and a type of enzyme called a kinase.
Acetylcholine plays a key role in memory and learning, and researchers have long linked it with the development of Alzheimer’s. The CHRFAM7A fusion gene encodes the “[alpha]7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,” but because it only does so in humans, drugs targeting the alpha-7 receptor have proven successful in preclinical, animal models but not in human ones.
Read more: Can antibiotics control Alzheimer’s disease?
The previous study by Dr. Szigeti and her team showed that CHRFAM7A has a modulatory effect on the uptake of the protein beta-amyloid, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. However, this previous study was in tissue cultures.
In the recent study, Dr. Szigeti and her team looked at how this gene affects drug effectiveness in humans. The researchers presented their findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, which took place in Los Angeles, CA.
This isn’t our moon. It's a cluster of nerve cells with a tau mutation. Tau is a culprit protein in the development of Alzheimer’s that we think builds up driving damage to brain cells. If we can put man on the moon. We can make breakthroughs in dementia research. #Apollo50 pic.twitter.com/Kro60TZw7W
— Alzheimer's Research UK (@AlzResearchUK) July 20, 2019
Gene explains why some drugs fail
Dr. Szigeti explains that the CHRFAM7A gene is present in two variants: a functional one and one that is not translated into a protein. “This splits the population 1-to-3 between non-carriers and carriers,” says the researcher.
The previous study by Dr. Szigeti and her team showed that CHRFAM7A has a modulatory effect on the uptake of the protein beta-amyloid.
She also explains that 3 out of 4 of the Alzheimer’s drugs that are now available target all the acetylcholine receptors. However, drugs that would specifically target the alpha-7 acetylcholine receptor have so far failed in humans.
Read more: Does cholesterol cause Alzheimer’s disease?
“Since this human fusion gene was not present in the animal models and screening systems used to identify drugs, 75% of Alzheimer’s patients who do carry this gene are less likely to benefit and therefore are at a disadvantage.”
“With this study, we compared the effect of cholinesterase inhibitors in patients who did or didn’t carry this gene,” Dr. Szigeti says. The team used data from a 10-year-long cohort study carried out by the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium, which involved 345 people with Alzheimer’s.
https://twitter.com/OnlineArtilces/status/1153132949870657537
“People who don’t have the [CHRFAM7A] gene respond better to the drugs available now,” Dr. Szigeti reports. “Our work confirms that Alpha 7 is a very important target for treating Alzheimer’s but the right model — a human model — has to be used when testing new drugs,” she adds.
In other words, one drug may work well for 25% of people with Alzheimer’s, but fail in the remaining 75%, and vice versa. This suggests that a more personalized approach is necessary when treating Alzheimer’s and screening for potential new drugs.
Read more: Can hypertension treatment slow down Alzheimer’s progression?
This research provides proof of concept that since different mechanisms are at work in Alzheimer’s in different patients, we need to develop more personalized treatments that will prove more effective in individuals”, says Dr. Kinga Szigeti.
The researchers emphasize the fact that their study is only a proof of concept with its own limitations, and that researchers need to undertake randomized, double-blind trials to confirm the results.