PREVENTION AND / OR TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA SYNDROME

Description

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by impaired cognitive function (that is, the ability to process thought) beyond what could be considered a consequence of normal aging. In this context, Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common chronic neurodegenerative disease, stands out. Currently, none of the drugs is curative or modifying the course of the disease. Neuropeptides and their receptors have received special attention, as they emerge as important mediators of neuronal mechanisms in the hippocampus. In the present invention, it is described for the first time how a GALR2 (Galanin Receptor 2) agonist enhances the neuronal protection induced by an NPYY1R (Neuropeptide Y Y1 receptors) agonist, creating a synergistic relationship between both. This treatment could be used in the prevention and / or treatment of cognitive impairment associated with dementia in Alzheimer's disease.

Advantages

Alzheimer's disease represents the world's largest burden of dementia in elderly patients. Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs available for Alzheimer's patients are those that target the cholinergic system (for example, donepezil, tacrine, rivastigmine, and galantamine) or the glutamatergic system (for example, memantine ). However, none of these drugs is curative or modifier of the course of the disease, providing only temporary and symptomatic relief, and to a subset of Alzheimer's patients. Included in the present invention are data demonstrating the neuronal protective role of GALR2 and NPYY1R agonists in the hippocampus both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use in the prevention and / or treatment of cognitive impairment associated with other dementia syndromes, due to the protective role of neurons described.