Better than a sudoku: could this drug be the key to preventing Alzheimer’s?

Our minds can be our greatest asset and our biggest enemy. The same humans that built aeroplanes, rockets and the internet are just as prone to ailments like depression, anxiety and functional cognitive decline.

Unfortunately when it comes to cognition, doing the odd sudoku probably won’t cut it if you’re hoping to maintain your current level as you age. Scientists have been poking and prodding the minds of test subjects for years to determine what we can do to preserve our brain function whilst we age.

Aside from the obvious- stimulate your brain, eat well, exercise regularly etc etc, companies like Actinogen (ASX: ACW) are exploring a pharmacological approach to the preservation of cognition.

The Company has today announced that they have reached their target enrollment of participants in their latest clinical trial for their drug, XanaMIA.

The biotech company is investigating new therapies for neurological diseases that arise from or are associated with dysregulated brain cortisol levels due to the strong association with cortisol levels in the brain and cognitive function. XanaMIA is a drug with the Company’s lead asset, Xanamem which they are hoping to develop for use in Alzheimer’s Disease, amongst others.

105 participants between the ages of 50 and 80 years old will be subjected to various doses or placebo for six weeks to determine the minimum effective dose to see improvement in cognition.

To test for cognitive function the study will use the Cogstate Neuropsychological Test Battery and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. The Cogstate Battery is a test that is able to provide a reliable and sensitive assessment of cognitive function across various indications. The Digit Symbol Substitution Test evaluates motor speed, attention, manual dexterity and visuospatial processing. This test has been recognised previously by the FDA and other authorities as an appropriate measure for a cognitive marketing claim.

CEO and Managing Director of Actinogen, Dr. Steven Gourlay said: “The completion of XanaMIA Part A enrollment is a significant milestone in the Company’s program to evaluate its lead molecule, Xanamem, for Alzheimer’s Disease, Fragile X Syndrome and Depression. We look forward to the XanaMIA trial’s confirmation of the effects of Xanamem on working memory and other measures of cognitive ability in Q2 CY2022.”