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Alzheimer’s Breakthrough – MIT Researchers Identified Genes Involved In Reversing Signs of Alzheimer

A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have recently identified the specific gene that is involved with the process of reversing the signs of the Alzheimer disease.

This gene known as the HDAC2, is a division of the family of various genes that are identified to control the gene expressions by altering the chromatin which is a structure present inside the cell’s nucleus within our bodies. When this particular gene HDAC is being repressed, the chromatin is loosened up, as a result the other vital genes get to express themselves.

When the team of researchers from the MIT injected the HDAC2 gene repressing drugs into the mice’s body that were regulated in a manner so as to have a state comparable to the Alzheimer’s disease in human beings, then the mice recovered back the capacity to perform formerly learned tasks, and on top of that were capable in learning different new tasks. On the other hand the mice that were regulated to not produce HDAC2 all showed great enhanced memories.

The team of researchers on noticing the high ability of the HDAC2 inhibitors in reversing the various symptoms of the Alzheimer’s in the mice are speculating and hoping that the memories that appear to be lost in various people may not have been completely lost, they might have just become inaccessible as a consequence of the various effects from the HDAC2.

Study Author Hui Tsai Li commented that the new results are similar to the phenomenon called the ‘fluctuating memories’ due to which certain demented persons experienced transient loss of clarity in their minds.

Now the researches are planning to see whether the drugs that were used on the mice would be successful in humans too. They added that in the next step forward they plan to develop and invent a new form of HDAC2 inhibitors and test them on humans for treating various brain related degenerative diseases.

Although various forms of these HDAC inhibiting drugs are already in use and are being tested for the treatment of Huntington’s disease, many researchers are also probing their role as anticancer agents.