UAMS Researchers Discover Cholesterol Drug’s Potential as Treatment for Alzheimer’s, Other Dementia

By Chris Carmody

Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have discovered that an FDA-approved cholesterol drug holds the potential to disrupt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

The research team published its findings in the journal Aging Biology. Akshatha Ganne, a postdoctoral fellow in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, is the lead author. Srinivas Ayyadevara, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Medicine, and Robert J. Shmookler Reis, Ph.D., professor in the College of Medicine, are the corresponding/senior authors of the paper.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, ezetimibe is a prescription medication that reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the intestines.

UAMS Researchers Discover Cholesterol Drug’s Potential as Treatment for Alzheimer’s, Other Dementia

Researchers Meenakshisundaram Balasubramaniam (from left), Ph.D.; Srikanth Vallurupalli, M.D.; Robert J. Shmookler Reis, Ph.D.; Srinivas Ayyadevara, Ph.D.; and Akshatha Ganne are shown in their research laboratory at the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. Ganne was the lead author of the study published in the journal Aging Biology.

UAMS Research Team Discovers Potential Alzheimer’s Drug

By David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — A potential new drug to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in people with the so-called Alzheimer’s gene has been discovered by a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) research team led by Sue Griffin, Ph.D.

UAMS’ Sue Griffin, Ph.D., and Meenakshisundaram, Balasubramaniam, Ph.D., led the discovery of the potential Alzheimer’s drug for people with the inherited Alzheimer’s gene.

The findings were published Jan. 8 in Communications Biology and include discoveries of a druggable target and a drug candidate, made by Meenakshisundaram Balasubramaniam, Ph.D., the paper’s first author.

An estimated 50-65% of people with Alzheimer’s disease have inherited the Alzheimer’s gene, Apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4), from one or both parents. About 25% of people have one copy of APOEε4 and are three times as likely to develop the disease. Those with two copies (one from each parent) make up 2-3% of the population and are 12-15 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

UAMS Research Team Discovers Potential Alzheimer’s Drug

UAMS' Sue Griffin, Ph.D., and Meenakshisundaram, Balasubramaniam, Ph.D., led the discovery of the potential Alzheimer's drug for people with the inherited Alzheimer's gene.