Advertisement

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Biological Chemistry

Inositolreverses Alzheimer'sin mice

June 19, 2006 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 84, Issue 25

A compound that can prevent and even reverse Alzheimer's in a mouse model of the disease has been fingered by Canadian researchers. University of Toronto neuroscientist JoAnne McLaurin and colleagues found that the scyllo stereoisomer of inositol (shown) is effective whether it is administered as a preventative treatment or after the disease is already established (Nat. Med., published online June 11, dx.doi.org/10.1038/nm1423). On the other hand, the myo isomer of inositol, which is marketed as a health supplement, has no impact on the disease. The researchers believe that scyllo-inositol alters the folding of amyloid-β proteins and stabilizes the proteins in nontoxic forms. This stabilization prevents or reverses aggregation of amyloid-β proteins into the toxic oligomers that some blame for the disease. The compound is now in Phase I clinical trials.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

0 /1 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.