Alzheimer's drug targets DNA repair
KCL-286, a drug originally developed for spinal cord injury, demonstrated the ability to repair DNA damage and reduce neuroinflammation in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Unlike current treatments that focus on a single disease mechanism, KCL-286 targets multiple disease-related pathways, including the repair of double-strand DNA breaks that accumulate in Alzheimer's-affected neurons. The study, published July 17, represents a new approach to treating the disease that focuses on cellular repair mechanisms rather than protein clearance.
Sweeteners alter gut bacteria in unexpected ways
A large laboratory study tested 39 commonly used sweeteners and found they can directly change the growth patterns of gut bacteria. Researchers identified more than 100 cases where sweeteners behaved differently when combined with medications, caffeine, or other food components. The findings raise questions about the widespread assumption that artificial sweeteners are metabolically inert and suggest their effects may vary considerably between individuals depending on medication use and diet.
Sugar-coated nanoparticles outsmart brain cancer
In a separate breakthrough, researchers developed sugar-coated nanoparticles that successfully ferried genetic instructions across the blood-brain barrier to attack glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer. The experimental treatment boosted survival by 50% in mouse models, offering a potential new approach to treating a cancer that currently has a median survival of just 15 months.