A group of scientists from the University of Kentucky has made a breakthrough in finding a possible treatment for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a common type of early-onset dementia that affects people between the ages of 40 and 65.
FTD impacts the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, which control behavior, speech, and memory. Patients with this condition often experience personality changes, speech difficulties, and memory loss over time.
One subgroup of FTD patients has a genetic mutation that prevents brain cells from producing a protein called progranulin. Without this protein, brain cells cannot function properly, which contributes to the progression of the disease.
Researchers discovered that a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides could help brain cells overcome the genetic mutation that blocks progranulin production.
In laboratory tests, they treated human neuronal cells with aminoglycosides, including two specific antibiotics, Gentamicin and G418. After the treatment, the cells began producing 50% to 60% of normal progranulin levels.
This discovery is significant because there are currently no effective treatments for FTD or other types of dementia. Restoring progranulin production could potentially slow or stop the disease’s progression in patients with this genetic mutation.
While the findings are promising, the research is still in its early stages. The next step involves testing the antibiotics on mice that carry the same genetic mutation. This will help researchers understand how the treatment works in living organisms and whether it is safe and effective for humans.
However, the scientists face challenges in making the treatment viable. Gentamicin is already approved by the FDA to treat infections, but it has side effects like kidney damage and hearing loss.
To address these concerns, the researchers plan to develop new compounds based on Gentamicin and G418 that would be safer for long-term use in FTD patients.
The study, led by Dr. Haining Zhu, was published in the journal “Human Molecular Genetics” .
While more research is needed, this discovery provides hope for patients and families affected by frontotemporal dementia. If successful, it could pave the way for new treatments that target the root causes of dementia, offering a much-needed solution for a devastating condition that currently has no cure.
This new direction in dementia research marks a significant step in the fight against the disease and highlights the importance of scientific innovation in improving brain health.
