A new drug could be used to treat the brain injury seen in Alzheimer's disease, research has indicated.
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego, found that oral administration of a cysteine protease inhibitor, E64d, reduced the build up of beta amyloid in the brain and significantly improved memory deficit.
According to the research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's disease, this indicates Cathepsin B as a new therapeutic target, which could potentially lead to new treatments for the condition.
Lead investigator Vivian Y H Hook commented: "The finding is especially exciting because E64d has previously been shown safe for use in humans, so we believe the compound has strong potential as a new therapy for Alzheimer's disease."
This follows a breakthrough in Alzheimer's research which saw scientists narrowing in on the novel location within the MS4A gene cluster which is associated with the condition, according to the study published in journal Genome Medicine.
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Posted by Timothy Walters
