University of Tokyo and others successfully reduce substances that cause Alzheimer's disease in mice

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

アルツハイマー病の原因物質減らす マウスで実験成功 東大など

2026年10月11日 5:50

医療・健康

脳の老廃物を排出する機能を薬で活性化することで、アルツハイマー病の原因とされるたんぱく質の蓄積を抑えることにマウスを使った実験で成功したと東京大学などのグループが発表しました。

ヒトを含む動物の脳には、脳脊髄液などを通じて老廃物を外に出す「グリンパティックシステム」と呼ばれる機能があるとする説が注目されていて、アルツハイマー病などの治療や予防への活用を目指した研究が世界で進められています。

東京大学と新潟大学などの研究グループは、脳脊髄液の排出を促すことで脳の中にある、アルツハイマー病の原因の1つとされる「タウ」というたんぱく質の量に変化があるかを調べました。

人工的にタウが脳にたまるようにしたマウスに脳脊髄液の流れを促す薬を3か月間投与する実験を行ったところ、投与したマウスはしなかったマウスと比べてタウの蓄積が4割ほど抑えられたということです。

研究グループは脳にもともと備わる機能を活性化して原因とされるたんぱく質を取り除くことで、病気の進行を抑えられる可能性が示されたとしています。

東京大学認知症共生社会創成治療学の山田薫特任准教授は「ヒトに応用するためには薬剤の安全性や効果をより慎重に検討する必要がある。脳の老廃物の排出メカニズムをさらに詳しく調べていきたい」と話していました。

Translation

University of Tokyo and others successfully reduce substances that cause Alzheimer's disease in mice

October 11, 2026, 5:50 AM

Medical & Health

A research group including the University of Tokyo announced success in an experiment using mice to suppress the accumulation of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease by using a drug to activate the brain's waste-clearance function.

Attention is focused on the theory that the brains of humans and other animals possess a mechanism known as the "glymphatic system," which expelled waste products via cerebrospinal fluid; researches were carried out globally aiming at utilizing this system for the treatment and prevention of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

A research group comprising members from the University of Tokyo, Niigata University, and others investigated whether facilitating the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid would change the levels of "tau"—a protein in the brain considered a cause of Alzheimer's disease.

In an experiment, mice genetically modified to accumulate tau in their brains were administered a drug that stimulated cerebrospinal fluid flow for three months. The results showed that tau accumulation was reduced by approximately 40% in the treated mice compared to those that did not receive the drug.

The research group suggested these findings indicated a potential way to slow disease progression by activating the brain's innate functions to remove the causative protein.

Kaoru Yamada (山田薫), a specially appointed associate professor in the Department of Dementia Co-creation and Therapeutic Innovation at the University of Tokyo, stated, "To apply this to human, we need to carefully evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug. We intend to investigate the brain's waste-clearance mechanisms in greater detail."

So, a research group in Japan has announced success in an experiment using mice to suppress the accumulation of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease by using a drug to activate the brain's waste-clearance function. Apparently, it is important to know how safe and effective it will be to apply this drug to human.