A New Molecule Offers Hope for Early Detection and Prevention: a Medical Research Breakthrough

The Growing Challenge of Alzheimer’s

More than 55 million people worldwide were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, and that number is expected to reach 139 million by 2050, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the global cost of dementia at $1.3 trillion annually, a figure projected to rise to $2.8 trillion by 2030.

Despite decades of medical research, most drugs developed to treat Alzheimer’s have failed, largely because they target the disease too late, after significant brain cell damage has already occurred. But a new approach led by Professor Shai Rahimipour at Bar-Ilan University's Department of Chemistry, is offering fresh hope. His work focuses on early intervention—identifying and preventing the disease in its pre-symptomatic stages before cognitive decline begins.

Targeting Alzheimer’s at Its Source

Alzheimer’s is linked to amyloid beta, a small protein that misfolds and forms toxic oligomers, which eventually develop into plaques and fibrils. While past treatments targeted these later-stage plaques, newer research suggests that oligomers are the true culprits behind neurodegeneration.

Recent antibody-based therapies, including Aducanumab and Lecanemab, have shown some promise in targeting oligomers, but they come with serious side effects such as brain swelling and microhemorrhages. Additionally, these treatments struggle to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, limiting their effectiveness.

A Medical Research Breakthrough: Synthetic Cyclic Peptides

Professor Rahimipour and his team have overcome these challenges by developing small, drug-like cyclic peptides that can both diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease. These molecules successfully:

• Block the formation of toxic oligomers before they aggregate.
• Protect human neurons from damage in lab studies.
• Cross the blood-brain barrier effectively, unlike most antibodies.
• Remain in the body longer, reducing the need for frequent doses.

By detecting extremely low concentrations of early oligomers, the team was able to identify the disease before symptoms appeared, offering a crucial window for early intervention.

Stopping Alzheimer’s Before It Starts

Through advanced non-invasive imaging techniques, researchers pinpointed where Alzheimer’s begins—the thalamus, an area of the brain previously overlooked in Alzheimer’s studies. Even more significantly, their research showed that Alzheimer’s progression could be halted in its earliest stages by inhibiting oligomer formation.

"We have, in effect, stopped the disease before it starts," says Prof. Rahimipour. "Unlike natural antibodies, our synthetic molecules are not immunogenic and remain in the body longer, making them a more effective and practical treatment option."

The Future of Alzheimer’s Research

This discovery, recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, represents a major step forward in medical research. Now, Prof. Rahimipour’s team is working toward developing a drug for pre-clinical and clinical trials, bringing hope that Alzheimer’s could one day be prevented before symptoms even appear.

With millions of lives at stake, breakthroughs like this underscore the urgent need for continued investment in medical research to combat neurodegenerative diseases. If successful, this approach could redefine how we diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent Alzheimer’s, changing the future for millions of people worldwide.