April 7, 1999
Web posted at: 5:31 p.m. EDT (2131 GMT)

BOSTON (CNN) -- Researchers say they believe a new finding on how the brain works could one day point them to new treatment approaches for Alzheimer's disease.

In an article in this week's Journal Nature, researchers say an elusive enzyme that makes brain plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease may be the same molecule as a key protein already associated with most familial cases of Alzheimer's.

The connection could help scientists and pharmaceutical companies develop drugs to treat the disease.

"In the future this could allow us to treat Alzheimer's disease the same way we currently detect and treat high cholesterol," says Dr. Dennis Selkoe of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. "So an enzyme-blocking drug could prevent the progression of Alzheimer's, like cholesterol-lowering drugs prevent heart disease."

Not all researchers share Selkoe's enthusiasm. There's skepticism in the ranks of the Alzheimer's Association.

"This research could be a small part of the big puzzle, but more research needs to be done to prove the relationship between the enzyme, known as gamma secretase, and the protein, known as presinilin," says the association's Bill Theis.

Other scientists agree the true role of these biological markers of Alzheimer's disease will remain under debate.

"Although the findings are interesting, Dr. Selkoe's work will not convince all scientists that the enzyme and protein are the same molecule," says Dr. Jim Lau of Emory University's Alzheimer's Disease Center.

Alzheimer's affects more than 18 million people worldwide. The disease causes dementia and confusion. There's no cure at present, and the disease usually leads to death.