Tech Developed to Treat Alzheimer's Disease with Light

A Korean research team has suggested a new treatment method that can prevent or ameliorate Alzheimer's disease using light.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on Sept. 21 that a research team headed by Park Chan-beom, professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST, and Ryu Kwon from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology, succeeded in controlling the agglutination of beta-amyloids, which is known as a substance that causes Alzheimer's disease, using porphyrin, an organic molecule that responds to light.

The disease starts when a protein fragment called a beta-amyloid accumulates in the brain. The aggregating agent damages brain cells, leading to a decline in brain functions, which shows up as dementia. If the agglutination of beta-amyloids is successfully controlled, the formation can be prevented, which, in turn, can prevent or ameliorate Alzheimer's disease.

The research team used a bio-friendly organic molecule called a porphyrin derivative and blue LED light on a group of fruit flies, effectively controlling the agglutination of beta-amyloids. When porphyrin absorbs light energy, it releases a highly-reactive active oxygen. When the active oxygen combines with beta-amyloid monomers, they become oxidized and no longer agglutinate in the brain.

After experimenting with this method on a group of fruit flies, the research team discovered that symptoms found in Alzheimer's disease were relieved, including damage to areas that join nerves and muscles, a reduction in brain nerve cells, and a decrease in mobility and longevity. The newly-developed method makes it possible to treat the disease more effectively than conventional drug treatments using a smaller amount of drugs. The new method has few side effects as well. Hence, the research team anticipates that if the technology is developed further, it can be used widely.

Professor Park explained, “There have been no cases where photodynamic treatments were used in degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's.” He added, “We are planning to examine the applicability of various types of organic and inorganic light sensitive materials and to continue our research involving vertebrates.”

The research findings were featured as a cover article in the Aug. 21 issue of Angewandte Chemie, a weekly scientific journal published by the German Chemical Society.