Cited by 1,050Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases

A phase 1 clinical trial of nerve growth factor gene therapy for Alzheimer disease

Tuszynski, Mark H, Thal, Leon, Pay, Mary, Salmon, David P, U, Hoi Sang, Bakay, Roy, Patel, Piyush, Blesch, Armin +10 more·2005·Nature Medicine

Abstract

Cholinergic neuron loss is a cardinal feature of Alzheimer disease. Nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates cholinergic function, improves memory and prevents cholinergic degeneration in animal models of injury, amyloid overexpression and aging. We performed a phase 1 trial of ex vivo NGF gene delivery in eight individuals with mild Alzheimer disease, implanting autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to express human NGF into the forebrain. After mean follow-up of 22 months in six subjects, no long-term adverse effects of NGF occurred. Evaluation of the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subcomponent suggested improvement in the rate of cognitive decline. Serial PET scans showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in cortical 18-fluorodeoxyglucose after treatment. Brain autopsy from one subject suggested robust growth responses to NGF. Additional clinical trials of NGF for Alzheimer disease are warranted.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nm1239

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Authors
Tuszynski, M. H., Thal, L., Pay, M., Salmon, D. P., U, H. S., Bakay, R., Patel, P., Blesch, A., Vahlsing, H. L., Ho, G., Tong, G., Potkin, S. G., Fallon, J., Hansen, L., Mufson, E. J., Kordower, J. H., Gall, C., & Conner, J.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Tuszynski, Mark H
Venue
Nature Medicine
Published
2005-04-24
Volume
11
Issue
5
Pages
551-555
ISSN
  • 1078-8956 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-170X
OpenAlex
W2161483044
Cited by
1,050
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 59 · 2013: 74 · 2012: 70
FWCI
46.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Shiley Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Keywords
nerve growth factor, Alzheimer's disease, gene therapy, autologous fibroblasts, cholinergic neuron loss, cognitive decline, neuroprotection, brain glucose metabolism
MeSH terms
Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Cholinergic Fibers, Cognition, Fibroblasts, Histological Techniques, Humans, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Genetic Therapy, Prosencephalon, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Nerve Growth Factor, Positron-Emission Tomography

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