Work

Small-Molecule Klotho Enhancers As Novel Treatment Of Neurodegeneration

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The majority of neurodegenerative diseases have an important age component, and thus, understanding the molecular changes that occur during normal aging of the brain is of utmost relevance. In search for the basis of the age-related cognitive decline found in humans, monkeys and rodents, we study the rhesus monkey. Surprisingly, there is no loss of neurons in aged monkey brains. However, we reported white matter and myelin abnormalities in aged monkeys, similar to those observed in Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis patients. In a microarray analysis comparing young and old monkey white matter, we discovered that Klotho is downregulated in the aged brain. We then asked whether there is a connection between the age-related cognitive decline, myelin abnormalities and Klotho downregulation. If such a connection is found, compounds that upregulate Klotho expression could become of therapeutic interest for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and perhaps even Alzheimer's disease.

Source: Future Medicinal Chemistry

DOI: 10.4155/fmc.12.134

Authors: Carmela R Abraham, CiDi Chen, Gregory D Cuny, Marcie A Glicksman, Ella Zeldich

Institutions: Boston University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, University of Houston

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, National Institute on Aging