Mouse study ‘could help find treatments for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia’

Scientists have created intelligent and bold mice by altering a single gene, an advance that may pave the way for new treatments for brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Researchers have found that the analyzed mice were also less likely to feel anxiety or recall fear.

Researchers reached the findings after they altered a single gene to block a particular enzyme which can be found in many organs of the body including the brain called the phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) enzyme.

Steve Clapcote, lecturer in Britain’s Leeds University who led the study said that the work using mice has zeroed in on phosphodiesterase-4B as a potential target for promising new treatments.

Although the scientists admit that such “low-anxiety level” behavior could be counterproductive and even risky for wild mice, they emphasize the study has shown that inhibition of PDE4B could potentially enhance cognitive abilities as well as reduce levels of stress and anxiety.

In the initial set of experiments published last week in the journal Neuropsychopharmocology said that the scientists ran a series of experiments and behavioural tests on the PDE4B-inhibited mice and found that they learnt faster, remembered events longer and solved complex problem better compared to normal mice.

Scientists say these findings could be of interest to researchers looking at treatments for PTSD and pathological fear.

The normal mice preferred enclosed, dark spaces where as the PDE4B-inhibited onces opted to spend more time in open and the spaces which were brightly lit.

Ordinary mice are naturally fearful of cats, but the PDE4B-inhibited mice showed a decreased fear response to cat urine, suggesting that one effect of inhibiting PDE4B could be an increase in risk-taking behaviour.

The researchers have concluded that since the blocking of the enzyme works effectively in mice and humans have the same enzymes in them. The medicine can be examined first in animals to see whether or not any of them is perhaps appropriate to go ahead into medical trials in people.

The study’s findings have already received a positive evaluation in the scientific community, as experts recognize the importance of the research, considering there’s a lack of effective treatments for dementia. “We’d need to see how this gene could influence memory and thinking in people to get a better idea of whether it could hold potential as a target to treat Alzheimer’s”, said Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK, who were not involved in the study.