(NewsNation) — Alzheimer’s may be reversible if levels of a molecule known as NAD+ can be regulated in the brain, according to a researcher who helped test the approach in mice.
In a study published last month, scientists said they were able to use pharmacology to reverse advanced Alzheimer’s in mice that had been genetically programmed to develop the disease.
Researchers said they achieved this by stabilizing the levels of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) — an energy-producing chemical that is low in human Alzheimer’s patients — within the brains of lab animals.
“The brains of the mice were able to fully repair themselves and completely recover all their normal cognitive function,” Dr. Andrew Pieper, senior study author, told “NewsNation Prime” on Saturday.
The obvious question, he said, is whether the premise of his team’s work can be applied to people. Human trials are at least a few years away, Pieper said.
“Mice are not people, and so it really needs to be tested in humans,” he said.
In the meantime, NAD+ supplements are available over the counter. Pieper cautioned against taking doses to potentially pre-empt Alzheimer’s because it’s not known if excessive levels are harmful. It’s best to consult a physician, he said.
“What’s unique about our pharmacological approach is our agent, it just stabilizes the levels. It brings them back up to normal. It doesn’t boost them up too high, ever,” Pieper said.
More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s currently. The number is expected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. One in three older Americans die of Alzheimer’s or a form of dementia.