In animal models and patient-derived neurons, terazosin elevated ATP and warded off neurodegeneration. Men who take the drug to control prostate hyperplasia are less likely to get PD, or have milder symptoms.
The transcriptional repressor quiets neural activity and lengthens lifespan in worms. It is abundant in the brains of cognitively healthy centenarians.
Two papers used different approaches to energize laggard lysosomal function in neurons derived from people with Parkinson’s. Both restored lysosomal trafficking and reduced α-synuclein accumulation.
Slow-wave sleep brings on coordinated oscillations in blood flow, which in turn are coupled to waves of cerebrospinal fluid. The data point to a mechanism linking deep sleep to the flow of CSF.
Encouraged by success in treating infant spinomuscular atrophy, researchers are redoubling their efforts to target genetic causes of age-related neurodegeneration.
As gene therapy is making a comeback, scientists are exploring if it might prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s. Some of those treatments are permanent, heightening safety concerns.
The Phase 2 study missed its primary endpoint. While fewer developed dementia in the treatment group, the effect was not statistically significant. People on drug had less brain atrophy than those on placebo.