IIT Guwahati researchers discover new ways to prevent memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease

NEW DELHI: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have found a new way to reduce short-term memory losses associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research team headed by professor Vibin Ramakrishnan and professor HarshalNemade, of IIT Guwahati studied the neurochemical principles of Alzheimer’s, and explored new ways to prevent accumulation of neurotoxic molecules in the brain that are associated with short-term memory loss.
One of the key reasons for memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of "amyloid beta peptides" in the brain. The professors were looking at methods to reduce the accumulation of these peptides, in order to check the disease.
In 2019, the IIT Guwahati scientists found that application of a low-voltage, safe electrical field can reduce the formation and accumulation of toxic neurodegenerative molecules that cause short-term memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the external electric and magnetic field modulates the structure of these peptide molecules.
“Upon exposure to the electric field, we could retard the degeneration of nerve cells to an extent of 17–35%. Objectively, this would translate to about a 10 years delay in the onset of the disease”, said professor Ramakrishnan.
Working further in this area, the researchers explored the possibility of using ‘Trojan peptides’ to arrest aggregation of these neurotoxic molecules.
“The idea of using ‘Trojan peptide’ comes from the mythological “Trojan Horse” used as subterfuge by the Greeks in the battle of Troy. The researchers have designed Trojan peptides by adopting a similar approach of ‘deceit’ to impede the aggregation of the amyloid peptide, arrest the formation of toxic fibrillar assemblies, and reduce poisoning of nerve cells that leads to memory loss,” as per a statement by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
“Our research has provided a different path that may extend the onset of Alzheimer's disease. However, it would take testing in animal models and clinical trials before bringing in such new therapeutic approaches into human treatment” said the researchers.