Welcome to our Drug Discovery research area. Here, we focus on identifying and developing novel therapeutic compounds aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Aging-related disease.
Recent research highlights the critical role of plasmalogens (Pls) in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Studies reveal that blood plasmalogen levels are significantly reduced in these conditions,
with the degree of reduction correlating with disease severity (MCI < mild AD < moderate AD < severe AD < PD). This underscores the potential of plasmalogens as biomarkers for assessing AD severity. Clinical trials have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered plasmalogens.
A 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with MCI and mild AD showed significant improvement in cognitive function and clinical symptoms, alongside elevated blood plasmalogen levels. Open-label studies in moderate to severe AD and PD further confirmed
these findings, with no adverse events reported, emphasizing the safety of plasmalogen supplementation.
These results have led to the proposal of a new hypothesis linking reduced plasmalogen levels to the etiology of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders, suggesting a vital role for
plasmalogens in maintaining neuronal health and mitigating neuroinflammation. This research positions plasmalogens as promising therapeutic agents for improving cognitive function and managing neurodegenerative conditions while offering a novel biomarker for disease monitoring and progression.
