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A team from the Federal University of ABC has achieved a relevant advance in Alzheimer’s research by verifying that an experimental chemical compound is capable of reverse symptoms in disease-induced mice. The work, published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, focuses on regulating excess copper present in beta-amyloid plaques, one of the elements that contribute to cognitive decline.

The project was born from previous studies that linked genetic alterations and failures in copper transport with the accumulation of this metal in the brain. To address this question, the researchers designed several molecules with the ability to chelate copper and break the structure of the plates. Among the compounds developed, three proved to be suitable candidates, according to the first computer simulations aimed at analyzing their behavior in neuronal tissue.

Mechanism focused on regulating copper

Subsequent analyzes in cell cultures confirmed which of these molecules showed an acceptable safety profile. The one identified as L10 stood out for its low toxicity and its ability to protect lipids and DNA against oxidative stress, a process closely related to the formation of plaques. This behavior prompted the team to test it in mice with the disease induced by streptozotocin, a substance used to model the pathology.

Animals treated with the compound recovered copper balance in the hippocampus, a region essential for memory and learning. Furthermore, the researchers detected a clear reduction in neuroinflammation and oxidative damage, along with a decrease in beta-amyloid accumulations. In spatial orientation teststhe mice achieved a higher performance than the control group, which suggests a functional improvement of the cognitive system.

A simple molecule with potential

Professor Giselle Cerchiaro, head of the study, stressed that “It is an extremely simple, safe and effective molecule“. The researcher added that “the compound we have developed is much less expensive than the available medications. Therefore, even if it only works in part of the population, it would represent a huge advance over current options.” Their assessment is based on the fact that Alzheimer’s is a multifactorial disorder and not all patients present the same alterations in copper metabolism.

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The results also allowed us to verify that The substance did not generate toxic effects in neuronal cultures nor in the animals themselves, whose vital parameters remained stable throughout the experiment. According to the team, this combination of efficacy and safety makes the compound an attractive candidate to explore new therapies that are more accessible than those based on monoclonal antibodies.

The group has registered a patent application and is already working to close agreements with the pharmaceutical industry with the aim of initiating clinical trials. If the molecule demonstrates favorable results in people, it could be incorporated into the development of treatments aimed at slowing or mitigating the impact of a disease that affects more than 50 million people in the world.