Alzheimer’s Notes

Genetic Engineering in Mice May Aid Alzheimer’s Research

by Mary Emma Allen on May 30th, 2007

“Mice genetically engineered to lack a single enzyme in their brains are more adept at learning than their normal cousins, and are quicker to figure out their environment has changed,” according to a press release from UT Southwestern Medical Center published in EurekAlert.  (The research results appear in the online edition of Nature Neurosience.)

The example was given of the engineered, or “smart,” mice ” being more adept at learning to navigate a water maze and remembering that being in a certain box involves a mild shock.  The mice also were faster than their cousins to realize when situations changed and could work out an alternate route through the maze.

The implications for Alzheimer’s  could be great, according to the researchers.  Turning this enzyme (Cdk5) off in the brain and understanding more about it could help bring about better knowledge about Alzheimer’s along with many other conditions.  Scientists will continue to study the long term effect of deleting this enzyme from the brain of mice.

Also, at Alzheimer’s Daily News, this topic is mentioned, as well as reference to Dr.James Bibb, one of the researchers, who affirmed that understanding how the enzyme affects the brains and behavior of  mice might aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.  

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