Yoshitaka Nagai, neuroscientist, on Alzheimer’s treatment: “arginine is already known to be clinically safe and inexpensive”
Researchers say arginine could slow Alzheimer’s progression by breaking protein plaques in the brain, offering a safe, low-cost option.
An already-existing drug could be the key to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, according to researchers in Japan.
Protein buildup in the brain may be reversible
While conducting a study on mice published in Neurochemistry International, Japanese researchers discovered that the buildup of certain proteins in the brain, widely believed to be associated with Alzheimer’s, decreased after the mice were given oral doses of arginine.
What is arginine?
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that plays a key role in building new cells, supporting growth, healing wounds, and maintaining the immune system and the body’s response to infection.
Most people get enough arginine from a balanced diet, although supplements are available. The amino acid is also commonly used to treat high blood pressure.
A promising candidate for treatment
Study coauthor Yoshitaka Nagai, a neuroscientist at Kindai University, expressed his excitement in a statement about the findings. “What makes this finding exciting is that arginine is already known to be clinically safe and inexpensive, making it a highly promising candidate for repositioning as a therapeutic option for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Unraveling Alzheimer’s mysteries
What causes Alzheimer’s remains something of a mystery to scientists. However, many, but not all, sufferers show “plaques” of amyloid-beta proteins clumped together in the brain.
The Japanese study’s findings show that arginine can break those plaques apart, at least in mice. After receiving the drug, the rodents demonstrated improved behavior and cognitive performance.
Next steps: human trials
The next step is human clinical trials to determine whether these results hold true in people. “Given its excellent safety profile and low cost, arginine could be rapidly translated to clinical trials for Alzheimer’s and potentially other related disorders,” said Nagai.
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