A Potential Cure for Alzheimer ’ s and Other Cognitive Disorders
In the case of cognitive disorders , the brain becomes its own worst enemy .
Cognitive disorders are mental health conditions that affect learning , memory , perception and problem solving . These disorders include Alzheimer ’ s , dementia , stroke , schizophrenia and a series of more rare diseases , including Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome .
Scientists are still trying to pinpoint changes in the brain that lead to cognitive disorders and pinpoint which genes , cells , proteins and other important elements of proper body function could be a culprit . One protein in particular , called Reelin , could be a source of problems with memory and learning , but more importantly could offer a potential solution .
For 15 years , Dr . Edwin Weeber , University of South Florida ( USF ) Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology professor , has studied Reelin , a protein made in the brain . Through his research , he has seen a reduction in Reelin negatively impact learning and memory . In the past five years , he has worked to study the effects of increasing levels of the protein in the brain .
“ When we inject Reelin into the brains of mice that are genetically unaltered , we can significantly enhance their learning and memory – to a point that was somewhat shocking to us ,” said Weeber . “ Tests that we use for evaluating learning and memory in a mouse model usually take eight to 10 days to perform . [ The treated mice ] can learn before the first day is over .”
has not really been explored to-date , and the idea that we are at the threshold of translating basic science into potentially innovative approaches to therapy is always very exciting . We are thrilled to be working with Dr . Weeber and his outstanding team , and with USF , an institution we have found entirely supportive of advancing innovation and very receptive to interacting with industry to bring new technologies to market .”
To advance his research , Weeber collaborated with Agilis Biotherapeutics , a DNA therapeutics company , on a Corridor Matching Grants Research Program to explore the potential for Reelin as a gene-based therapy for patients with cognitive disorders . Gene-based therapies deliver good copies of a gene into appropriate cells in order to correct the patient ’ s disease at the root cause .
“ This is incredibly cutting-edge science ,” said Mark Pykett , Agilis president and CEO . “ This is a frontier of medicine and biology that
Weeber shares in the excitement .
“ As a scientist , I never thought I would have the opportunity to do this ,” he said . “ I thought that my work would be more along the lines of scientific discovery , publishing papers and writing grants , but Agilis and The Corridor have given me the opportunity to do something that could actually go into the patient population .”
28 florida . HIGH . TECH 2017