Found enzymes that eliminate cholesterol help prevent brain damage

A new medical finding shows that there is a new enzyme in the brain capable of decomposing toxic cholesterol in the brain, which is one of the factors causing some neurological diseases including Alzheimer's dementia.

Accordingly, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have announced that they have discovered a new enzyme capable of removing cholesterol, destroying the toxic cholestanol molecule to help reduce the risk of developing diseases. causes nerve damage, depression for the brain, xanthomatosis cerebrotendinous .

" We found that an enzyme called CYP46A1 not only eliminates cholesterol but also removes cholestanol from the brain ," said Dr. Irina Pikuleva, Vice President of Research at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School. of Medicine said in a statement.

In addition, he said, the CYP46A1 enzyme has the ability to remove cholestanol in many areas, other organs in the brain except the cerebellum .

He added that people with xanthomatosis cerebrotendinous have a high level of cholestanol in the brain and cause a lot of damage, brain depression in the long term.

The team used genetically modified mice containing CYP46A1. Research results show that the amount of cholestanol poison that has been removed simultaneously with cholestanol in the brain is also rapidly metabolized in some areas of the brain's mice. Previously, the ratio of cholesterol and cholestanol to one of the causes of some lesions, brain weakness, nervousness .

The team now hopes that the addition of boosting drugs, stimulating the activity of the CYP46A1 enzyme in the brain will open a new era of prevention as well as support treatment for patients with dementia, Brain damage, neurasthenia . However, this drug will have to go through the American FDA Association.

' If successful and licensed, CYP46A1 enzyme stimulant will open a new era to support the treatment of mild cognitive impairment patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, xanthomatosis cerebrotendinous ' - Pikuleva said.

This research has just been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.