Reversing APOE4 damage — what a hepatitis drug reveals about Alzheimer's and possible treatment

People with at least one APOE4 allele are more susceptible to blood-brain barrier breakdown, which contributes to Alzheimer's disease development. APOE4 promotes the destruction of the blood-brain barrier by triggering the inflammatory cyclophilin A cascade. Dr. Montagne's animal research demonstrated that blocking cyclophilin A partially restored vascular function and cognition, suggesting that targeting the blood-brain barrier could be a promising avenue for Alzheimer's treatment. In this clip, Dr. Axel Montagne discusses the feasibility of pursuing cyclophilin A, MMP9, or blood-brain barrier proteins to develop new Alzheimer's disease therapies.

Interview published on Feb 28, 2023

Watch the full episode:
   • Axel Montagne, PhD, on Solving Alzhei...  

#aging #Alzheimer #brain
00:00 APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease
01:23 APOE4's influence on pericytes
03:18 Cyclophilin A and MMP9 in APOE4 carriers
05:27 Blocking cyclophilin A restores vascular function
09:27 Targeting MMP9 or other blood-brain barrier proteins
13:42 Potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease