Fighting Against Alzheimer's

Fighting Against Alzheimer's
Categories: News

A recent study carried out in Iowa State University on brains of Alzheimer' patients showed a specific protein called Neuronal Pentraxin 2, or NPTX2 protein, may slow memory loss and reduce brain atrophy caused by Alzheimer' disease. NPTX2 does this by remodeling existing synapses communicating between neurons and clearing away old cells or digested proteins, much like a ‘chemical bulldozer’.

A Groundbreaking Study

Researcher Auriel Willette from the Iowa State University found evidence that higher levels of a protein called neuronal pentraxin 2 (or NPTX2 protein) has the ability to slow cognitive decline and improve the connections between neurons in the brain of Alzheimer' patients.

As the name suggests, neuronal pentraxin 2 primarily produced by neurons in the body, which are nerve cells that carry electrical impulses and chemicals. “Neuronal pentraxin 2 remodels existing synapses communicating between neurons," Willette said. “It also clears away old cells or digested proteins." Willette compared neuronal pentraxin 2 to a chemical bulldozer, clearing away old buildings to make way for new buildings. “If you have high levels of this synapse-building, inflammation-regulating protein, you may not have as much, if any, change in your memory," he said.

Willette created three study groups; people without Alzheimer' disease, people with a chance of developing Alzheimer' disease due to cognitive impairment and people with diagnosed Alzheimer' disease. He found participants with higher levels of neuronal pentraxin 2 showed little or no memory loss after two years. It was also noted that there was less atrophy in the medial temporal lobe in patients with increased pentraxin 2 levels.

Risk Reduction & Prevention

People who are overweight or obese are particularly at risk of developing Alzheimer' disease because excess body weight leads to inflammation in the brain. Keeping in shape helps induce more activity between neurons, which in turn boosts a individual' level of neuronal pentraxin 2.

Exercising the mind by engaging in new or complex mental tasks, or working at a mentally active job may also promote the production of proteins like neuronal pentraxin 2, Willette said. Antidepressants or alcohol consumptions also increases the levels of neuronal pentraxin 2, but these methods are not recommended, as there may be drug therapies that could elevate neuronal pentraxin 2 levels for people at risk of Alzheimer'.

Today around 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer' disease, making it the leading cause of dementia. “It' just a devastating illness," Willette said. “Unlike a lot of other neurological diseases, Alzheimer' disease basically robs you of yourself."

Neuronal Pentraxin 2 Products Available from Fitzgerald

We offer two primary Neuronal Pentraxin 2 antibodies which have been validated in Western blotting, and can be purchased with a matched blocking peptide. The sequence of these blocking peptides is identical to the epitopes recognized by the corresponding antibody, allowing researchers to use them for validating specificity of antibody binding in different assays such as Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Reagent Name Catalog Number
Antibody/Peptide Pair 1 NPTX2 Antibody 70R-9388
NPTX2 Blocking Peptide 33R-9758
Antibody/Peptide Pair 2 NPTX2 Antibody 70R-9389
NPTX2 Blocking Peptide 33R-2537

 

 

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