New anti-inflammatory molecule could hold promise for Alzheimer’s

Research led by scientists at Trinity College Dublin has identified a protein called NLRP3 which plays a role in inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). The researchers have developed a compound that can block the action of NLRP3 and shown that it can reduce the severity of disease in a mouse showing features of human multiple sclerosis. The research team suggests that the compound could have benefits across a wide range of immune disorders, as well as against diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.