ALZ TECH

A December 18, 2019 The Economist article spotlighted AlzEye, a London-based research project exploring the use of retinal eye scans to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The data set includes 15,100 patients over 40 who visited Moorfields Hospital between 2008 and 2018. The cost of the eye-scanning equipment would be around $19,000.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to a December 19, 2019 Technology Networks article, Baylor College of Medicine researchers reanalyzed results from a 2018 study which found a link between herpes virus and Alzheimer's disease. Study co-author Dr. Hyun-Hwan Jeong was unable to produce the same results using identical statistical methods and additional tools. “Our goal in pursuing and publishing this study was to generate tools and guidelines for big data analysis, so the scientific community can identify treatment strategies that will likely benefit patients,” said study co-author Dr. Zhandong Liu. Also covered by Medical Xpress, and Neuroscience News.

A December 18, 2019 New Atlas article looked at the potential of taking microdoses of LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) to improve cognition, specifically to treat Alzheimer’s disease. A recent Phase I clinical trial demonstrated it safe enough to proceed to larger efficacy trials. LSD stimulates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which mediate cognitive function. Disruptions are implicated in early Alzheimer’s symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. According to the article, “…The study did make clear [is] that microdoses may confer some degree of cognitive impact in sub-perceptual doses, even when the subject is not perceiving any conscious effect from the drug.”

A December 18, 2019 UW Medicine Newsroom news release reported on new research targeting abnormal tau, through suppression of the MSUT2 (mammalian suppressor of tauopathy 2) gene, as a means to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Abnormal tau is linked to cognitive decline in AD and other dementias. “Pharmaceutical companies have heavily invested in going after amyloid but so far these efforts haven’t moved the needle on dementia treatments. I think the field needs to think about targeting amyloid and tau together because both amyloid and tau act together to kill neurons in Alzheimer’s disease,” said Professor Brian Kraemer.