Gene therapy reverses Alzheimer's in mice

SAN DIEGO, Sep 20, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- University of California-San Diego scientists say they've reversed the course of Alzheimer's disease in mice by targeting a key enzyme with gene therapy.

The scientists, working with the Laboratory for Genetics at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, located in La Jolla, Calif., said they reversed rodents' memory losses by reducing the amount of an enzyme that's critical for the development of the disease.

The mice had been genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's disease.

"What we are showing is a proof of principle that stopping the synthesis of a protein that is necessary for the formation of the telltale plaques reverses the progression of the disease, and more importantly, the cognitive function of these mice, which had already been impaired, has now recovered," said Inder Verma, a Salk professor.

The findings are reported in an advance on-line publication of the journal Nature Neuroscience.