A new study by French scientists shows that very small molecules called “nanobodies” – single-chain antibodies extracted from the blood of camelids such as camels and llamas – could be a new way to treat Alzheimer’s patients and other brain disorders.
According to researchers at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the size of these nanobodies is about one-tenth that of conventional antibodies, and this feature allows them to easily cross the blood-brain barrier, which prevents the passage of many current drugs.
Researchers have emphasized that these molecules are capable of directly binding to pathogenic proteins that are the main cause of brain cell destruction in Alzheimer’s.
This discovery could lay the foundation for a new generation of effective drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
However, scientists have warned that the safety, stability, and possible side effects of these compounds must be fully investigated before entering human trials.
