Eisai's Insomnia Drug Shows Promise in Fighting Alzheimer's Brain Damage
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Neuroscience has revealed that Eisai Co., Ltd.'s insomnia medication, Lemborexant, can significantly reduce brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease. The drug has shown promising results in preserving brain structure and slowing disease progression.
Alzheimer's disease is characterised by the accumulation of toxic tau proteins, which form tangled clumps inside neurons. This leads to neuronal death and cognitive decline. The orexin system, responsible for regulating wakefulness, becomes dysregulated in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, leading to chronic sleep fragmentation and excessive daytime sleepiness. This dysregulation accelerates toxic protein accumulation in the brain.
Lemborexant works by targeting the orexin signaling pathway, which has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. In laboratory models of Alzheimer's disease, the drug reduced tau buildup and restored healthier sleep patterns. This, in turn, preserved brain structure and prevented the shrinkage typically seen in Alzheimer's disease progression. The study suggests that targeting sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's patients might slow or prevent disease progression, rather than just managing symptoms. Notably, tau pathology correlates more closely with brain atrophy and cognitive decline than amyloid plaques.
Eisai Co., Ltd.'s Lemborexant, originally developed for insomnia, has shown potential in reducing brain damage associated with Alzheimer's disease. By targeting the orexin system and reducing tau buildup, the drug has demonstrated the ability to preserve brain structure and slow disease progression. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in human clinical trials.
Read also:
- Capella Nursing Students Gear Up for Crucial FPX 4050 Assessments
- Comprehensive Overview of Addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Enhanced Health Services Provisioned by San Diego Academic Health Partnership Continues During COVID-19 and Beyond
- Vaccination drive targeting infants under 6 months old against bronchiolitis in the region of Andalucia
