A groundbreaking study has revealed that ponesimod, a drug originally used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), shows promising potential for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Kentucky found that ponesimod reduces neuroinflammation, a critical factor in the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive and irreversible neurological disorder that affects cognitive function, memory, and behavior, with an estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older living with the disease.
We stand at the threshold of a critical endeavor to develop new treatment strategies against Alzheimer’s disease, said Dr. Erhard Bieberich, a professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky.
The study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, focused on ponesimod, an oral medication approved by the FDA for treating relapsing forms of MS. The drug targets a specific receptor in the immune system, reducing inflammation in the brain and preventing it from attacking the central nervous system.
We are the first to show that ponesimod is effective in a mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease, said Dr. Bieberich. Since this drug is already in clinical use for therapy of relapsing multiple sclerosis, it is immediately available to be used in Alzheimer’s disease therapy as well.
The researchers specifically studied microglia, a type of cell found in the central nervous system that regulates inflammatory responses. Dysfunctional microglia are connected to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s because they help clear out abnormal protein deposits in the brain, a characteristic feature of the disease. These protein buildups disrupt communication between nerve cells and eventually lead to their death.
Our study shows strong experimental evidence that ponesimod may be a therapeutic drug, which not only reduces neuroinflammation but also enhances the clearance of neurotoxic proteins in the brain in middle and late-stage Alzheimer’s, explained Dr. Bieberich.
In addition to studying mice models, the researchers also worked with human brain samples obtained from UK’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The results from these tests were consistent with the findings in mice, further supporting the potential use of ponesimod as an Alzheimer’s therapy.
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and a major cause of disease progression. The ability of ponesimod to reduce neuroinflammation and enhance the clearance of toxic proteins offers hope for the development of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
While this study provides promising insights, further research and clinical trials will be necessary to fully understand the efficacy and safety of ponesimod as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. However, the potential repurposing of an FDA-approved drug holds great promise in the fight against this debilitating disease.
