ANKARA

A modified form of vitamin K may help restore lost neurons in Alzheimer’s patients, Japanese researchers have found, media reports said Monday.

The study, published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, tested 12 newly developed analogues of vitamin K that were enhanced with retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A known to support brain cell growth, according to Fox News.

“Since neuronal loss is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, these analogues may serve as regenerative agents that help replenish lost neurons and restore brain function,” Fox News quoted Yoshihisa Hirota of the Shibaura Institute of Technology, co-lead author of the study, as saying.

Natural vitamin K forms, including menaquinone-4 (MK-4), are known to aid in blood clotting and bone health, and may offer some brain protection.

However, they have limited ability to treat neurodegeneration, experts say.

The newly created versions were shown to be three times more effective in converting immature brain cells into neurons during laboratory tests.

They also successfully crossed the blood-brain barrier in animal models, an essential step for any brain-targeting treatment.

“These new molecules retained the original benefits of vitamins K and A, while exhibiting significantly improved brain-cell activity,” Hirota said, according to the news outlet.

Researchers now plan to move forward with animal and human trials to determine clinical potential.

“A vitamin K-derived drug that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or improves its symptoms could not only improve quality of life, but also reduce the burden of healthcare costs and caregiving,” Hirota added.