Mice are playing a key role in research aimed at finding new treatments for dementia, according to researchers. Harrison, who is involved in this work, noted the challenges faced in treating neurodegenerative conditions: “There are many devastating neurodegenerative conditions that we just haven’t got effective ways to treat,” he said.
Recent years have seen the introduction of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease that can slow cognitive decline. However, these drugs do not work for all patients, may cause serious side effects, and have not been widely adopted by the NHS due to concerns about cost effectiveness.
Harrison explained that some pharmaceutical companies have become hesitant to invest in this area because of the high risk of failure. He added: “The new drugs that have come out recently remove beta amyloid - one of these misfolded proteins - which is found in the brains of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease. They don’t work for everybody, but their discovery has given us added confidence that other treatments can be found. We’re looking for different ways of treating neurodegenerative disease."
One method used by Harrison's team involves giving mice a drug that causes mild brain inflammation, mimicking aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. The resulting molecular changes can be reversed using molecules developed by chemists at the Institute. Researchers then analyze mouse brains by measuring inflammatory gene expression or examining tissue under a microscope to identify promising compounds for further development.
“We’re really excited to have developed a mouse model that represents a key feature of many neurodegenerative diseases,” Harrison said. “The brain is such a complex organ that it’s very difficult to model outside a live animal.”
Even when experimental drugs show no effect, the team publishes these negative results so others do not repeat unsuccessful approaches. Positive findings are shared with pharmaceutical companies as potential partnership opportunities.
Harrison emphasized the importance of this research: “Almost one million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK. We need to find better treatment options for them, and for future sufferers."