A COMMON hormone already produced by the body could stop early-stage Alzheimer’s in its tracks.
Leptin is released by fat cells and is involved in appetite regulation.
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Researchers at the University of Dundee have discovered that a small part of the hormone can reduce the effects of two toxic proteins in the brain called amyloid and tau.
These proteins build up, causing plaques and tangles around brain cells, which leads to memory loss and development of Alzheimer’s disease.
But symptoms may not occur until years later.
Leptin can have dramatic effects on the brain, including stopping the development of Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages, the study suggested.
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Professor Jenni Harvey, who is leading the research, said: “We’re working at the level of synapses which are the communication points in the brain because synapses are affected early in the disease process, when Alzheimer’s is still reversible.
“Our research shows that leptin could significantly slow, or even stop, the disease developing.
“We have found that applying leptin can block the ability of amyloid and tau to interfere with synapses and memory loss, and it can prevent the unwanted effects of these cellular changes.”
What is leptin?
Leptin is a hormone involved in appetite regulation and therefore, weight.
The hormone prevents hunger when the body no longer needs calories.
It is released by fat cells.
The hormone doesn’t act on food intake day to day, but more so over a long period to maintain a person’s weight.
Therefore, when on a diet, leptin levels are thought to decrease to signal to the brain that the body is starving, making diets all the more difficult.
This, among other ways leptin works, can contribute to weight gain.
The researchers have discovered six amino acid fragments out of the 167 within the hormone which retain the ability to block negative effects of amyloid and tau in the brain, and so slow or stop the development of the disease.
This has enabled the scientists to design a potential drug template using these smaller fragments of leptin.
Prof Harvey said it could be a few years before any new leptin-based drugs become available.
She said: “Developing drugs is not a quick process, most drugs take around 10 years.
“Even when one has been developed there are a number of safety checks it has to go through before being issued to patients.”
There are currently 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia and that figure is predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2050.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of the disease.
There is no specific treatment for dementia and tragically no way to reverse the damage to the brain that has already occurred.
However, treatment may help slow down the progression of the condition and the main aim is to treat the underlying cause to help prevent further problems, such as strokes.
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life.
Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
About one in 10 people who’ve received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory – Misplacing items or having trouble
remembering recent conversations.
- Attention problems – finding it difficult to concentrate,
e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out
duties at work - Disorientation – confusion about time, date or place
- Thinking skills – problems with planning or completing
tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal - Problems with communication and finding the right words
- Mood and behaviour changes – becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling low
These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the
time, or they might come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
- Not smoking
- Doing regular physical activity
- Staying mentally and socially active
- Eating a healthy balanced diet
- Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink
- Having your hearing checked regularly
- Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check