LAY LANGUAGE
Did you know up to 81% of people living with Alzheimer’s are estimated to have Type 2 diabetes? That’s because Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s all accumulate certain proteins in parts of the body: in the brain for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and in the pancreas for Type 2 diabetes. A Purdue University researcher is creating compounds to address these protein aggregations.
PROBLEM
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are the two most common neurological diseases. Symptoms include cognitive decline, movement disorders, and premature death. Type 2 diabetes is an endocrinal disease that can lead to circulatory, nervous, and immune system disorders. The development of these diseases has a common trait: the aggregation of proteins, including certain hormones.
SOLUTION
Purdue University researchers have synthesized a library of small-molecule compounds with similar chemical structures for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They measured the compounds’ activity to inhibit the aggregation of certain proteins at the micromolar level, or one-millionth of a mole per liter. They have also discovered three small-molecule compounds that inhibit the formation of a certain hormone that aggregates in the pancreas of many with Type 2 diabetes.
PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR
Jessica Sonia Fortin, College of Veterinary Medicine
MEDIA RELEASE
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INNOVATION DISCLOSURES
Disclosure 1, Disclosure 2, Disclosure 3, and Disclosure 4
