Scientists Discover Molecule That Blocks Aging And Dementia in Mice
Hevin is a protein naturally produced in the brain by cells called astrocytes. These support-worker cells look after the connections or synapses between neurons, and it's thought that hevin plays a role in this essential work.
In this new study, researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the University of São Paulo in Brazil boosted hevin production in the brains of both healthy mice and those with an Alzheimer's-like disease.
That hevin overload worked wonders: over six months of testing, the treated mice demonstrated better memory and learning capability than untreated animals, while brain scans showed improved neuron communication across synapses.
"Hevin is a well-known molecule involved in neural plasticity," says neurobiologist Flávia Alcantara Gomes from UFRJ.
"We found that the overproduction of hevin is capable of reversing cognitive deficits in aged animals by improving the quality of synapses in these rodents."
Further analysis showed that the additional hevin in the mouse brains was triggering the production of other proteins related to synapse health. It seems hevin isn't working alone when it comes to maintaining neuron connectivity.
The research team also looked at the wider context, digging into publicly available health data to find that hevin levels in the brains of Alzheimer's patients were lower than normal. That suggests hevin and astrocytes do have a role to play in the disease.
"The originality lies in understanding the role of the astrocyte in this process," says Gomes.
"We've taken the focus away from neurons, shedding light on the role of astrocytes, which we've shown could also be a target for new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment."
It will take a significant amount of time to go from lab tests in mice to actual treatments that people with dementia are able to take, of course, but it's a promising start – and eventually, treatments based on these findings could complement other drugs.
Many of the treatments currently being explored for Alzheimer's look to tackle the toxic protein clumps that build up in the brain, but those protein bundles aren't targeted by hevin. In fact, the new research showed hevin had no impact on plaque build-up, which could support the emerging idea that they aren't a 'cause'.
"Although there's still no consensus among researchers, I work with the hypothesis that the formation of beta-amyloid plaques isn't the cause of Alzheimer's," says Felipe Cabral-Miranda, biomedical scientist at UFRJ.
"And the results of the study, by providing proof of concept for a molecule that can reverse cognitive decline without affecting beta-amyloid plaques, support the hypothesis that these, although involved in the mechanisms of the pathology, aren't enough to cause Alzheimer's."
It's a complex picture, and while we're still not sure how Alzheimer's disease gets started in the brain, it's probable that numerous factors are involved. That means any potential treatment or prevention is going to need to be complex as well.
"Of course, in the future it'll be possible to develop drugs that have the same effect as hevin," says Gomes.
"For now, however, the fundamental benefit of this work is a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and the aging process."
The research has been published in Aging Cell.
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Where can you see the Milky Way in Ohio? These 'dark sky' locations may have the best view
August has been a month jam-packed with cosmic phenomena visible from Earth – from nebulas to meteor showers to planetary conjunctions. But the month isn't over yet. Now? Add into the mix one of the last best opportunities to see the Milky Way. The center of our galaxy is positively teeming with billions of stars that routinely become visibly bright and vibrant at certain times of the year – if you're in the right place at the right time. As summer nears its end, so, too, does the so-called "Milky Way season" in the United States. Fortunately, stargazers still have a chance to glimpse the Milky Way's iconic band of hazy light as it arcs across the night sky. The best part? You don't need any fancy telescopes or equipment to view it; just your eyes and maybe a camera, if you're into astral photography. Here's everything to know about our Milky Way, including three of the potential best "dark sky" locations in Ohio to see the stunning natural phenomenon. Mars: 'Enhanced' photo from Perseverance shows Mars under Earth-like skies What is the Milky Way galaxy? The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. Because it appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, the Milky Way is known as a spiral galaxy. Our planet sits along one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA. The Milky Way sits in a cosmic neighborhood called the Local Group that includes more than 50 other galaxies. Those galaxies can be as "small" as a dwarf galaxy with up to only a few billion stars or as large as Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. Why is it called the Milky Way? The Milky Way got its name because, from our perspective on Earth, it appears as a faint, milky band of light stretching across the sky. Milky Way could be visible from Earth. Will Ohio have a view? 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'An otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle will reduce these risks but persistent heavy drinking drives progressively accumulating issues that a healthy lifestyle alone can't fully counteract,' says Kiely. 'For example, alcohol lowers levels of key hormones [for muscle growth] like testosterone and growth hormone, while cortisol, a key stress hormone that drives muscle breakdown, rises. And because alcohol also reduces the absorption of calcium and suppresses the activity of bone-building cells, you're likely to have a faster decline in bone density, making your bones more fragile.' The good news is that such effects do not seem to be as pronounced with moderate drinking. 'A single glass of wine a night for women, or two for men, is unlikely to cause measurable harm to muscle health and little risk for bone health,' says Kiely. 'This is particularly the case for people who stay active and eat well.' What is the effect on how quickly you age? Drinking too much has long been associated with faster signs of visible ageing, such as more wrinkles, saggy skin and a duller complexion, but we now know that consuming half a bottle of wine each night actually ages you at the DNA level. In 2022, Topiwala carried out a study showing that consuming more than 17 units of alcohol per week – or around eight standard glasses of wine – causes damage to the tips of chromosomes, known as telomeres, which play an important role in keeping your DNA stable. 'Alcohol directly damages DNA, causing breaks and mutations,' says Topiwala. 'This is thought to explain why alcohol increases cancer risk.' What you can do to limit the risks While all of this may seem like something of a downer, all these risks are most apparent when it comes to heavy drinking. 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LUND, Sweden, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamlet BioPharma, the pharmaceutical company, specializing in the development of drugs for cancer and infections, announces the completion of the successful Phase II clinical trial of the company's drug candidate Alpha1H in patients with cancer in the urinary bladder. The final clinical study report based on extensive analyses of clinical and laboratory data highlights the potent treatment effects. All primary and secondary endpoints of safety and efficacy were reached. The final clinical report has been completed and submitted to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA). "The final clinical report's consistent efficacy outcomes and favorable safety profile are highly encouraging. The strength of the data provides compelling evidence of Alpha1H's potential to become a much-needed proactive treatment option, and we look forward to advancing it in our regulatory discussions. We are committed to bringing this innovative therapy to patients as quickly and safely as possible. These results mark a major milestone for Hamlet BioPharma and for people with cancer in the urinary bladder. The study was made possible through close collaboration with leading universities and medical centers, including Lund University, Sweden, Motol University Hospital, Czechia and Linnane Pharma AB, whose combined expertise ensured robust design, execution, and analysis," said Catharina Svanborg, MD, PhD and CEO Hamlet BioPharma. Summary from the Clinical Study Report Efficacy was formally confirmed – 80% of tumors responded to Alpha1H, with 59% average tumor size reduction in the high-dose group Molecular and cellular secondary endpointsAlpha1H reaches tumor tissue, triggers tumor cell apoptosis, and causes rapid shedding of tumor cells into the urine. Durable effect shown across repeated treatment cyclesPatients who received a second round of instillations maintained clinical benefit, showing continued tumor cell death and reduction — demonstrating the treatment's lasting efficacy, even with repeated dosing. BCG-like immune activation confirmed – but fasterCytokine profiling shows Alpha1H activates a broad immune response overlapping with BCG, the current standard of care. However, Alpha1H triggers this response more rapidly and without lasting side effects. Suppression of cancer genes and pathways Advanced RNA sequencing revealed Alpha1H downregulated over 700 of ~800 cancer-related genes, including key oncogenes like RAS and GJA1. This provides a mechanistic explanation for its unique tumor-killing profile. Strong safety profile confirmed over longer follow-up – no serious side effectsNo drug-related serious adverse events occurred, even after higher or repeated dosing. Mild local side effects were comparable to placebo, and no systemic effects were observed, consistent with Alpha1H's local mechanism of action. Why This Matters Clinical Value The results reinforce Alpha1H as a potential breakthrough therapy for NMIBC patients. Unlike current treatments that are often given after surgery, Alpha1H is used before surgery to reduce tumor burden, potentially allowing for less invasive procedures and improved outcomes. Importantly, Alpha1H achieved these effects without the toxic side effects associated with chemotherapy or systemic immunotherapy. Differentiated Mechanism and Positioning Alpha1H works through a unique mechanism: it enters tumor cells, causes programmed cell death (apoptosis), and activates the body's own immune response. Unlike BCG, which is limited by supply issues and safety concerns, Alpha1H is a well-tolerated, synthetic compound with strong stability and safety – even after repeated dosing. It acts locally in the bladder, without systemic exposure, making it easier to deliver and better suited for broader clinical use. Commercial Opportunity Each year, more than 500,000 patients globally are diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Many do not respond to BCG or other interventions and experience relapses. With Fast Track designation from the FDA and patent protection in key markets, Alpha1H is well positioned to meet this urgent unmet need. The global NMIBC market is estimated at over USD 3 billion[1] annually. If approved, Alpha1H could serve as a neoadjuvant treatment, an add-on to standard of care, or a standalone therapy – representing a strong commercial opportunity. The results from the final clinical report will also strengthen our position in our dialogue with potential partners. About the Study The Phase II/III trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Alpha1H in about 60 subjects. Participants were randomized to receive either Alpha1H or placebo of care over about one month. The primary endpoints were Adverse Events, Characteristics of papillary tumors, Quantification of cell shedding in urine and the secondary endpoints included Induction of apoptosis, Histopathology scoring, Tumor response to Alpha1H by gene expression analysis, Proteomic analysis of immune markers in urine. Safety was assessed for all patients, who received treatment with investigational product or placebo. These achievements were made possible by close collaborations with leading universities and medical centers. The trial brought together leading researchers and clinicians from Lund University in Sweden, Motol University Hospital in Czechia and Linnane Pharma AB in Sweden. By combining expertise across disciplines and geographies, the partnership ensured rigorous study design, high-quality data collection, and robust analysis. This collaborative approach not only advanced the development of Alpha1H but also contributed valuable insights to the broader scientific community working to improve outcomes for patients with bladder cancer. Next Steps Hamlet BioPharma is engaged with FDA to discuss submission requirements and timelines for a Phase III study. The clinical study data and other progress is regularly published in international, peer-reviewed journals. About Alpha1H The drug candidate Alpha1H kills tumor cells quickly and selectively and shows strong anti-cancer effects in animal models of and patients with bladder cancer. Hamlet BioPharma announced that the drug candidate Alpha1H showed potent treatment effects in patients with cancer of the urinary bladder. The extensive data analysis of the complete study material, which includes safety, clinical data and advanced molecular and tissue analyses has now been completed and final clinical report prepared for regulatory purposes. About Hamlet BioPharma Hamlet BioPharma is an innovative biotechnology company that develops scientific discoveries into drugs for the treatment of cancer and infections. The goal is to address unmet medical needs in large patient groups in need of improved cancer treatments or alternatives to antibiotics. The company is leveraging highly innovative scientific discoveries and an extensive IP portfolio, to take these innovative drugs through mechanistic and preclinical phases, through the development of drug production technology to the clinic. Three projects in clinical development are in Phase II trials. The company is listed on Spotlight Stockmarket, ticker HAMLET. For more information, please contactCatharina Svanborg, CEO and founder, +46 709 42 65 Testad, CFO, Hamlet BioPharma AB, +46 70 84 84 210, [1] Transparency Market Research; This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: Release 4221183_0.png View original content: SOURCE Hamlet BioPharma AB (publ) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
