Scientists have finally cracked the code of how an experimental new drug
called J147, which has a proven track record of reversing Alzheimer’s
disease in mice, turns back the clock in cells, making them appear more
youthful. The new discovery is a crucial step in readying the drug for
human studies.wisepoqder J147
The Latest Research on J147
In a paper published on January 7, 2018 in the journal Aging Cell,
researchers from Salk Institute for Biological Studies reported
previously unknown details about how the drug, made from a modified
version of a molecule found in curcumin, works in the brain. They found
it binds to a protein in mitochondria, the cells responsible for
generating energy. In doing so, it makes cells appear younger—at least
in the mice the drug has been tested on so far.
“This really glues together everything we know about J147 in terms
of the link between aging and Alzheimer’s,” said Dave Schubert, head of
Salk’s Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory. “Finding the target of J147 was
also absolutely critical in terms of moving forward with clinical
trials.”
What Is J147?
J147 was first developed in 2011, and researchers have carried out
several studies that show it can reverse memory loss and slow or reverse
Alzheimer’s in mice. But until this study, they didn’t know how it
worked within cells.
How Does J147 Work?
Scientists were able to show that J147 works by manipulating ATP, a
protein in the mitochondria and the body’s mobile source of energy. When
J147 was present, neurons were protected from toxicities associated
with aging. Additional experiments showed that J147 increases the levels
of ATP and promotes healthier, more stable mitochondria.
“We know that age is the single greatest contributing factor to
Alzheimer’s, so it is not surprising that we found a drug target that’s
also been implicated in aging,” said Josh Goldberg, the paper’s first
author.
Scientists have long targeted the protein beta-amyloid, which
accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, but since age is the
single biggest risk factor for dementia, a drug that targets it could be
the piece of the puzzle researchers have been looking for. J147 could
potentially be successful in other neurodegenerative diseases, too, like
Parkinson’s.
“People have always thought that you need separate drugs for
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and stroke,” said Schubert. “But it may be that
by targeting aging we can treat or slow down many pathological
conditions that are old-age associated.”
