Effectiveness of the tetrapeptide HAEE: an innovative approach to Alzheimer's treatment in experimentation

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions. According to the “Alzheimer’s Disease International”, there were 36 million reported cases of AD worldwide in 2009, with projections suggesting an increase to 66 million by 2030 and 115 million by 2050.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on three experimental groups consisting of male APPswe/PS1dE9/Blg mice on a mixed genetic background with C57Bl6/Chg animals. Each group included 10 mice. At the baseline (point 0), peptides and drugs were administered to two groups of animals aged 6 months. The treatments were given circadianly every 48 hours without breaks for one month. Subsequently, at point 1 of the experiment, half of the group (n=5) was selected for further histological analysis of the brain. The remaining half did not receive any treatments for one month before undergoing histological examination. Statistical significance between experimental and control groups was assessed using an unpaired Student’s t-test at p<0.05.

Results and Discussion: Histological analysis indicated the efficacy of the tetrapeptide HAEE at a dosage of 50 mg per kg of mouse weight, showing a significant reduction in amyloid plaques in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice.

Conclusion: The study supports the proposed hypotheses and suggests further investigation into additional drug groups recommended for Alzheimer’s treatment for comparative studies.

Graphical Abstract