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Serial Killer Blocked
20 October 2013

Serial Killer Blocked

The possibility of developing drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the commonest form of dementia, comes closer as we unravel its complex chemistry. We know that a family of substances called amyloid-beta peptides (ABPs) is a serial killer of brain nerve cells, or neurons – whose spindly extremities vulnerable to attack are stained green in this picture of highly magnified brain tissue. While ABPs are difficult to zap with drugs, a much easier target appears to be a protein in the cell membrane, called mGluR5 which has been shown to play a critical role in the ABPs’ attack plan. In an experiment on mice with a similar condition to Alzheimer’s, their memory and learning ability were restored when mGluR5 was chemically blocked. Whether a safe and effective drug can be developed for use on humans remains to be seen but research is now underway.

Written by Mick Warwicker

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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