Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have identified a potential new way to treat Alzheimer's disease by targeting an enzyme in the brain called IDOL. In laboratory studies, removing the enzyme from neurons significantly reduced amyloid plaques, one of the main biological hallmarks of Alzheimer's, and may also help the brain better resist damage linked to the disease.
The discovery comes as scientists continue searching for improved treatments for Alzheimer's. In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two disease modifying drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, which work by clearing amyloid plaque buildup in the brain. These treatments can help stabilize patients by slowing further decline.
The Indiana University team believes targeting IDOL could offer a different strategy for fighting Alzheimer's while also improving communication between brain cells and supporting healthy lipid metabolism.
"What makes this exciting is that we now have a specific target that could lead to a new type of treatment," said Kim, the P. Michael Conneally Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics. "We believe that IDOL will provide us with an alternative strategy to treat Alzheimer's disease. Targeting enzymes in drug development offers key advantages due to their well-defined active sites or 'pockets' where drugs can attach and block their activity. This precision means we can design molecules that hit the right target with minimal side effects."
