'Brainy' mice research may lead to effective treatment for Alzheimer's

Genetically altered mice tend to be more intelligent and exhibit less anxiety, according to new research. The discovery is speculated to be a part of a more comprehensive study regarding treatment to diseases like Alzheimer's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Scientists from Britain and Canada did not expect their genetically modified super-smart mice would be less anxious than regular mice. This caused them to believe the speculation that blocking off the phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) enzyme can be a treatment to stress, anxiety and memory related illnesses.

Researchers blocked the enzyme found in different organs, including the brain, on the mice, making them smarter and less fearful of their environment, suggesting it can introduce risk-taking behavior.

"Our work using mice has identified phosphodiesterase-4B as a promising target for potential new treatments," said research leader Steve Clapcote, a lecturer in pharmacology at Britain's Leeds University.

According to Clapcote, the team is developing drugs that can inhibit the PDE4B, specifically to gain similar results.

According to their experiments, the brainy mice were found to learn faster and have sharper memories than their regular counterparts after a series of behavioral tests. These mice were observed to have the capacity to solve complex problems. Genetically-altered smart mice were better at recognizing the mouse they met the previous day and discovered the hidden escape platform, according to a Reuters report.

Interestingly, brainy mice have less recollection of a fearful event after several days, which can be a starting point for new treatment research for others circumstances, like mental decline due to aging.

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