The 2023 International Association of Biomedical Sciences Forum (IABS Forum-2023) was held on December 7th and 8th in Irvine, USA. The theme of the IABS Forum-2023 is New Concepts for the treatment of (chronic) neurodegenerative disorders, with a primary focus on Alzheimer’s disease (dementia). Professor Jing Liang, a Fellow of the Royal Medical Sciences Academy and the Inventor of “Smarto-One” for dementia, delivered a lecture. She showed the pathological and physiological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as breakthrough advancements in drug development for dementia.
Professor Jing Liang delivered a lecture at the 2023 International Association of Biomedical Sciences Forum (IABS Forum-2023).
Dr. Liang explained that Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 11% of the total incidence rate among Americans aged 65 and above. It is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the dysfunction of various cell types leading to neuronal death, with synaptic impairment being a key factor in cognitive impairment. In her speech, Dr. Liang pointed out that the unknown causes of Alzheimer’s disease have hindered the development of animal models for drug development, resulting in a lack of effective prevention and treatment methods. Attempts to lower Aβ levels, which are associated with Alzheimer’s, have proven ineffective, indicating that Aβ plaques and tau protein tangles are not the sole causes of cognitive impairment and memory loss.
Dr. Liang explained that social isolation or loneliness accounts for over 50% of Alzheimer’s disease cases. Thus, Dr. Liang team established an animal model of social isolation, which is mimicking the social isolation and loneliness experienced by humans and the natural onset of Alzheimer’s disease. After four weeks of isolation, the model exhibited Aβ plaques, tau protein tangles, decreased mitochondrial ATP production, neuroinflammation, and increased anxiety/aggression. Neural post-synaptic anchoring proteins and GABAergic neurotransmission activity were reduced, resulting in impaired cognitive function, mirroring the observed characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.
As mentioned by Nobel laureate Dr. Thomas Südhof, synaptic impairment is the most vulnerable aspect. Dr. Jing Liang believes that the morphology and function of synapses are dependent on a type of immune cell, called astrocytes. Astrocytes, along with neuro-pre and post synapses, form tripartite synapses that are essential element for cognitive formation. The research conducted by Dr. Jing Liang’s team provides strong evidence that after two weeks of social isolation, astrocytes start morphological changes, losing support to neurosynapses, resulting in tripartite synapses’ structural damage. As a consequence, the transmission of cognitive signals is compromised, leading to cognitive impairment.
Astrocytes and synapses form a tripartite synaptic connectivity network, which is a essential element contribute to cognitive formation.
Dr. Jing Liang’s presentation received support from Nobel laureate Dr. Thomas Südhof, who gave a lecture during the conference.
According to reports, the “Smarto-One” could reverse these pathological changes, including reducing Aβ plaques, tau protein tangles, and neuroinflammation, restoring mitochondrial ATP production, and repairing the damages of tripartite synapses, thereby intervening the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, and restoring cognitive function. This effect surpasses the capabilities of current medications and represents a groundbreaking research and discovery. Therefore, it is believed that “Smarto-One” can be developed into an effective prevention and therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Südhof impressed by this development efforts.
(Dr. Thomas Südhof, the recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and a neuroscientist from Stanford University, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech titled ” Towards A Cell Biology of Alzheimer’s Disease.”)
Partial group photo of speakers at the 2023 IABS International Association of Biom