Researchers create an innovative mRNA approach to tackle Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers at The Florey Institute have developed a new mRNA technology approach to target the toxic protein tau, which is known to accumulate in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This groundbreaking research utilizes mRNA, which has typically been used for vaccines such as those developed for COVID-19.

The study, published in Brain Communications, highlights The Florey as a leading institution in the mRNA field, with Dr. Rebecca Nisbet spearheading this innovative approach. For the first time, mRNA is being explored as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, demonstrating the versatility of this technology beyond vaccine development.

Dr. Nisbet compares mRNA to an instruction manual for cells, where the cell reads the mRNA and produces an antibody. The team at The Florey utilized mRNA to instruct cells to generate RNJ1, an antibody specifically designed to target tau protein clusters in the brain cells of patients with dementia.

The findings show that RNJ1 is unique in its ability to directly engage with tau within the cells, providing a promising strategy for enhancing the targeting of toxic molecules in the brain. The researchers believe that this approach, when combined with nanoparticle packaging, has the potential to improve patient outcomes compared to traditional strategies.

Although RNJ1 shows promise, further research is needed to develop this approach as a viable treatment option. Dr. Nisbet emphasizes that current Alzheimer’s treatments are effective but expensive to produce and inefficient at delivering active antibodies into brain cells. Conventional antibodies like lecanemab can remove plaque outside brain cells but are unable to reach toxic proteins like tau inside the cells.

The team’s work opens up new possibilities for developing effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. By leveraging mRNA technology to target intracellular proteins like tau, researchers at The Florey Institute are at the forefront of advancing innovative therapies for patients with dementia.