Molecule Discovered That Prevents Brain Cell Death in Dementia

Researchers have identified a promising molecule that may protect brain cells from dying, offering potential breakthroughs in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The molecule targets processes linked to cell degeneration, helping to preserve brain function and slow disease progression. This discovery marks a significant step forward in dementia research, potentially leading to more effective therapies and improved quality of life for millions affected by these debilitating conditions. Further clinical studies are expected.

A group of Australian scientists has discovered a small molecule that prevents cell death, marking a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne focused on identifying compounds capable of stopping cell death, a step that could eventually aid in treating degenerative conditions.

Their findings provide optimism for potential therapies that might halt or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. After screening more than 100,000 chemical substances, the team identified a small molecule that targets a protein known as BAX, which is involved in cell death. By disrupting the activity of BAX, a key protein associated with cell death, the molecule effectively prevented cell death from occurring.

“We were excited to discover a small molecule that can block BAX and stop it from functioning,” said Professor Guillaume Lessene from WEHI. “Unlike most cells, simply inhibiting BAX in neurons may be enough to prevent cell death,” Lessene explained further. While therapies that induce cell death are making strides in cancer treatments, developing compounds that block cell death to address neurodegenerative conditions has proven difficult.

The newly discovered molecule works by targeting BAX, which causes cell death by damaging mitochondria, the cells’ energy producers. “For the first time, we were able to keep BAX away from mitochondria and preserve cell life using this molecule,” said Kaiming Li, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Dewson Lab.

“This discovery could pave the way for next-generation inhibitors of cell death to address degenerative diseases,” Li stated in their article published in Science Advances. Although treatments that promote cell death are revolutionizing cancer therapies, creating drugs that block cell death for neurodegenerative diseases has been much more challenging.

The research highlights the potential to develop drugs that can prevent cell death, opening a promising path to discovering disease-modifying treatments for conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

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Source: ndtv‍