DALLAS: Researchers have found that a natural protein fragment produced in the brain can inhibit of a key enzyme implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The finding could lead to the development of new medications to treat the disease.
The investigators found that the protein fragment sAPPα inhibits the enzyme BACE1. Increased activity of the enzyme leads to the production of the amyloid beta aggregates and plaques that are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s. “Because sAPPα inhibits the BACE1 enzyme, it may be possible that it can be used to help prevent potentially dangerous increases in BACE1 activity, and thus prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” explained the senior study author.