An anti-ageing vaccine may have benefits against Alzheimer’s disease, a scientific conference heard last night.
Japanese scientists say the “senolytic” vaccine has proved effective in mice studies, appearing to prevent the development of disease and reducing amyloid deposits.
The vaccine eliminates cells expressing senescence-associated glycoprotein and has shown promise against a range of diseases, including atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes, in laboratory studies involving mice.
The preliminary findings were reported to the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Science Scientific Sessions in Boston, Massachusetts.
Researcher Dr Chieh-Lun Hsiao, a fellow in the department of cardiovascular biology and medicine at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine in Tokyo, said: “Alzheimer’s disease now accounts for 50% to 70% of dementia patients worldwide. Our study’s novel vaccine test in mice points to a potential way to prevent or modify the disease. The future challenge will be to achieve similar results in humans.
“If the vaccine could prove to be successful in humans, it would be a big step forward towards delaying disease progression or even prevention of this disease.”
Dr Hsiao added: “Earlier studies using different vaccines to treat Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models have been successful in reducing amyloid plaque deposits and inflammatory factors, however, what makes our study different is that our SAGP vaccine also altered the behaviour of these mice for the better.”
Vaccination Targets Senescence-associated Glycoprotein Ameliorates Alzheimer’s Pathology And Cognitive Behavior In Mice. American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Meeting Report – Abstract P3004
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