This innovative therapy, which targets harmful protein buildup, has shown promising results in improving brain function in aged mice.
Researchers have developed a nasal spray that could be a breakthrough treatment. Alzheimer’s disease and other potential neurodegenerative diseases.
The new treatment targets the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain.
The spray works by targeting the buildup of tau proteins, which in healthy brains stabilise the internal support structures of cells and help transport molecules and nutrients within nerve cells, keeping them alive.
In neurodegenerative diseases, chemical changes in the brain cause tau protein to start breaking apart and clumping together, forming what are called neurofibrillary tangles.
These tangles interfere with the normal functioning of brain cells, leading to their death and, ultimately, cognitive decline.
The American and Italian research team that developed this innovative spray tested it on aged mice and found it improved cognitive function.
Their findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
“This nasal spray method opens up a new avenue for non-invasive delivery of therapeutic tau antibodies directly to the brain, which holds promise for a number of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Rakez Cade, lead author of the study and professor at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), in a statement.
Improved cognitive function
The research team developed an antibody called TTCM2 that is designed to specifically identify and target toxic tau buildup.
The antibody was then packaged into particles and optimized for improved delivery to the brain by intranasal administration, bypassing the blood-brain barrier, a major obstacle to targeting brain neurofibrillary tangles.
“Our study highlights the potential for intranasal tau immunotherapy to effectively target intracellular tau aggregates, which are a major cause of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies,” Cade said.
“This approach not only improves the delivery of therapeutic antibodies but also their efficacy in clearing tau aggregates and improving cognitive function,” he added.
A key part of this approach is the use of TRIM21, a protein found inside cells that acts as a receptor for antibodies, helping to tag and remove unwanted material.
Normally, TRIM21 helps clear viruses in the body. In this study, the researchers used TRIM21 to clear harmful tau aggregates in brain cells. When the tau aggregates bound to the therapeutic antibody, TRIM21 recognized them and helped clear them.
By utilizing TRIM21, the researchers were able to more effectively target and remove tau buildup, leading to improved cognitive function in the mice they used.
“This advance may have a profound impact on treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, offering new hope to millions of patients suffering from these debilitating diseases,” said Sagar Gaikwad, one of the study’s authors.
