Energy Metabolism
Uniquely targeting metabolic defects in neurodegenerative disorders
Alzheimer's
disease (AD) remains a largely untreated condition. Development
of effective treatments relies on identifying the underlying
factors that give rise to the clinical symptoms of the disease.
One such target is the well characterized decrease in glucose
metabolism that occurs in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient,
commonly referred to as cerebral "hypometabolism."
Accera is developing novel therapies that target this metabolic
defect and may lead to new products for this devastating
disease.
The main fuel for the brain is the sugar glucose. The brain
rarely uses fat as a fuel. Therefore, defects in the brain’s
ability to use glucose have broad deleterious consequences.
Low rates of glucose metabolism can result in disturbances
in cholesterol homeostasis, cholinergic defects, and altered
processing and clearing of cellular proteins - all of which
are physiological hallmarks of AD.
Regional defects in glucose utilization have been well documented
in AD and can be detected in at-risk populations, as early
as 30 years of age, decades before clinical symptoms arise.
The cause of the hypometabolism remains uncertain, but may
be related to disturbances in lipid metabolism. Membrane
proteins, such as glucose transporters, rely on specific
lipid environments in which to function. If these environments
are not ideal, glucose transporters and other membrane proteins
may function poorly. Hence, altered lipid metabolism may
also be at the heart of AD. This is consistent with the findings
that variation in the lipid transport gene, Apolipoprotein
E, is the major risk factor or the most common form of AD.
Accera has developed a novel strategy to alleviate cerebral
hypometabolism. This product is designed to increase energy
to the brain and provide raw materials for cholesterol and
acetylcholine synthesis. Accera's revolutionary approach
is unique among companies developing therapeutics for AD.
Accera’s approach is to provide alternative energy to the
brain. Accera’s therapeutic approach produces an alternative
to glucose known as ketone bodies. Ketone bodies consist
of beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate and acetone. Hence
ketone bodies are well suited as a supplemental energy source
for cells with compromised glucose metabolism. Accera’s technology
produces ketone bodies without the need for fasting or difficult
dietary modification.
The video below gives an animated explanation of hypometabolism,
the physiological hallmark of AD, and our therapeutic approach
using ketones. This approach has been validated in preclinical
and clinical studies with our new product, Axona™, which
will be launched by Accera later this year.
Science Video - Windows Media File
The brochure below gives a brief explanation of hypometabolism, the physiological hallmark of AD, and our therapeutic approach using ketones.
Science Brochure - PDF