Drug development of a novel PDE5 inhibitor for Alzheimer’s disease

Nerve cells communicate through specialized structures called synapses that connect one nerve cell to another. Cellular communication is necessary to support memory and other cognitive functions. In Alzheimer's disease, synapses become damaged which may contribute to impaired nerve cell communication and cognitive decline. Recent studies by Jole Fiorito, Ph.D. and others have found that inhibiting a molecule called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) can help prevent synaptic damage and restore memory function in Alzheimer's-like mice. Drugs that are PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) are currently available to treat certain conditions in humans, but they are not optimized for the long-term treatment of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's.