Wednesday May 21, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A compound called Antisense oligonucleotide (OL-1) may reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the May 2014 issue of Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Susan Farr, Ph.D., research professor of geriatrics at Saint Louis University and colleagues conducted the study and found the potential therapeutic effect of this antisense compound in treating Alzheimer's disease, which can otherwise eventually destroy the patients' learning ability and memory.

For the study,  genetically modified mice that tended to form amyloid beta protein were treated with antisense oligonucleotide (OL-1). Amyloid beta protein is considered the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers found the treated genetically modified mice with a condition that was similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans had the same learning ability and memory as wild mice, meaning that this compound can prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Antisense, a strand of molecules, can bind to messenger RNA and shut down the translation of a gene, in this case, an amyloid beta protein precursor gene.  The study shows OL-1 blocks the translation of RNA and prevents the overexpression of an amyloid beta protein precursor. (David Liu)