Researchers at the University of Dundee have discovered that leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone present in humans, may significantly impact early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Their study indicates that leptin can reduce the harmful effects of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, which are associated with memory loss and the development of Alzheimer's disease.
The team, led by Professor Jenni Harvey, found that six small fragments of the 167 amino acids in leptin could block these toxic proteins' adverse effects on synapses—brain communication points affected early in Alzheimer's. By targeting synapses, they hope to slow or halt the disease's progression.
This research offers a framework for designing a potential drug based on these leptin fragments. However, Prof. Harvey cautions that drug development is a lengthy process, typically taking about ten years, along with necessary safety checks before patient availability.
Currently, around 900,000 people in the UK live with dementia, a figure expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2050.