Monday, July 17, 2023
At the recently concluded Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2023, two innovative therapeutic approaches utilizing CRISPR technology for Alzheimer's disease were unveiled. One approach focuses on mitigating the impact of the APOE-e4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. The other approach aims to decrease the production of beta-amyloid, a toxic protein associated with the disease.
CRISPR, also known as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is an emerging tool in drug discovery that has shown tremendous potential. It enables faster identification of drug targets and facilitates the development of next-generation treatments. The reports presented at AAIC 2023 highlight the application of CRISPR technology in advancing Alzheimer's research.
While recent FDA-approved anti-amyloid drugs represent a significant advancement in Alzheimer's treatment, there is still much work to be done. One study discussed at the conference focused on reducing beta-amyloid production by targeting the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which plays a central role in Alzheimer's. The goal is to decrease beta-amyloid production while enhancing neuroprotective actions.
Another study explored the potential of CRISPR in reducing the expression of the APOE-e4 gene, a prominent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. Inheriting one copy of APOE-e4 increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's two- to threefold, and having two copies further escalates the risk. Utilizing CRISPR technology offers a promising avenue for addressing this risk by potentially downregulating the expression of the APOE-e4 gene.
These groundbreaking developments in CRISPR-based therapies bring hope to the Alzheimer's and dementia community, offering potential new avenues for treatment. While the approved anti-amyloid drugs mark an important milestone, ongoing research and development using CRISPR technology hold promise for further advancements in the field of Alzheimer's treatment.
Source: prnewswire.com
