A new discovery by Australian scientists could lead to the development of a drug that slows Alzheimer’s disease.
The scientists say they have identified a toxin called quinolinic acid that plays a major role in the onset of the disease. This toxin kills nerve cells in the brain, leading to dysfunction and death.
“Quinolinic acid may not be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but it plays a key role in its progression,” according to a statement by Alzheimer’s researcher Dr Karen Cullen from the University of Sydney. “It’s the smoking gun, if you like.”
The Alzheimer’s research team from Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, the University of Sydney and Japan’s Hokkaido University found quinolinic acid neurotoxicity in the brains of dementia patients.
