It could restore memory: what is DDL-920, this promising molecule for Alzheimer's disease

Maladie d’Alzheimer : une molécule prometteuse pour restaurer la mémoire

This is a discovery made for the moment on mice but which offers hope to patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles have discovered a molecule, called DDL-920, which has the capacity to restart memory circuits.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects memory, but also other cognitive functions. While curative treatments are still lacking, some discoveries offer hope for patients and their loved ones.

Today, recently approved drugs by the FDA in the United States, such as lecanemab and aducanumab, remove the harmful plaque that builds up in patients' brains. While removing this plaque has been shown to slow the rate of cognitive decline, it does not restore memory and cognitive impairment.

And that's where a discovery made by scientists at UCLA comes in. They set out to find a compound that could actually reactivate the memory circuit.

Traffic lights

Comparing the brain to a traffic light, the researchers explain that it sends electrical signals at different rates to start and stop various functions. Gamma oscillations are among the highest frequency rhythms, and they orchestrate the brain circuits linked to memory. "Patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as mild cognitive impairment, have been shown to have reduced gamma oscillations“, the authors explain.

So they set out to find a compound that could target certain fast-firing neurons that are essential for generating gamma oscillations and therefore for memory and cognitive function. And they identified one, called DDL-920.

No Human Clinical Trials Yet

Tests on mice genetically engineered to exhibit Alzheimer's symptoms showed promising results. After two weeks of oral treatment with DDL-920, these rodents were able to perform memory tasks at levels comparable to those of healthy mice.

While these results are encouraging, the scientists emphasize that much work remains before clinical trials in humans can be considered. However, if its efficacy is confirmed, this molecule could not only revolutionize the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but also have implications for other neurological disorders characterized by a decrease in gamma oscillations, such as depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.