A drug under development for diabetes may also be able to help treat Alzheimer’s disease, according to Irish researchers.
It might also help with other degenerative brain diseases, researchers say.
Laboratory studies have shown the experimental drug stimulates the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, according to researchers at the University of Ulster.
The drug, (Val8)GLP-1, has been developed to help the body control its response to blood sugar.
The latest tests have shown the drug crosses the blood-brain barrier, stimulating the growth of new brain cells.
Researchers, backed by Alzheimer’s Research UK, have reported their findings in the journal Brain Research.
So far the studies have found no immediate benefits on learning and memory in the laboratory mice involved in the tests.
Researcher Professor Christian Hölscher said: "This could have huge implications for diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where brain cells are lost.
“It is very encouraging that the experimental drug we tested, (Val8)GLP-1, entered the brain and our work suggests that GLP-1 could be a really important target for boosting memory.
"While we didn’t see benefits on learning and memory in these healthy mice, we are keen to test the drugs in mice with signs of Alzheimer’s disease, where we could see real improvements."
And Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "While we know losing brain cells is a key feature of Alzheimer’s, there is a long way to go before we would know whether this drug could benefit people with the disease.
"This research will help us understand the factors that keep nerve cells healthy, knowledge that could hold vital clues to tackling Alzheimer’s. With over half a million people in the UK living with the disease, learning more about how to keep our brain cells healthy is of vital importance."
Brain Research September 14 2012
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