A nasal spray drug has shown promise in reversing cognitive decline and brain damage in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.
It works by inhibiting the enzyme S-acyltransferase (zDHHC). Excessive levels of this enzyme have been implicated in the accumulation of toxic proteins associated with the disease and in cognitive decline. Despite the preliminary results, this pathway of inhibition may be a promising treatment for the disease.
According to the generally accepted hypothesis, Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the accumulation of altered forms of certain key proteins, particularly tau and beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid plaques and aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau are considered the hallmarks of the disease. However, the precise biomolecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of Alzheimer’s disease remain partially unknown.