[Aug. 30, 2023: Staff Writer, The Brighter Side of News]
Sleep apnea can worsen heart failure and reduce lifespan. However, there may be new hope for heart failure patients with sleep apnea (Credits: Creative Commons)
Heart failure is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and is a leading cause of death. This condition is often associated with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes repeated pauses and starts of breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea can worsen heart failure and reduce lifespan. However, thanks to a promising new drug called AF-130, there may be new hope for heart failure patients with sleep apnea.
The drug was recently tested in an animal model at the University of Auckland’s Waipapa Taumata Rau. The researchers found that AF-130 not only improved the heart’s ability to pump blood, but also prevented sleep apnea. These findings were published in the scientific journal, Nature Communications.
“This drug provides benefits for heart failure, but it provides two benefits for the price of one, in that it also provides relief from apnea for which there is currently no drug, only CPAP (a breathing machine),” says the professor. equipment), which is difficult to bear.” Julian Paton, director of the University’s Manaki Manawa Center for Heart Research.
Heart failure and brain response
When a person has a heart attack and subsequent heart failure, the brain responds by activating the sympathetic nervous system, commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. The brain continues to activate this response even when it is no longer needed, which contributes to sleep apnea and reduced life expectancy. Most patients with heart failure die within five years of diagnosis.
“This study has revealed the first drug to modulate nerve activity from the brain to the heart, thereby reversing the progressive deterioration of the heart in heart failure,” says Professor Patten.
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AF-130 and Sleep Apnea
The part of the brain that sends nerve impulses to the heart also controls breathing. AF-130 has a dual function: It reduces the “fight or flight” response while stimulating breathing to prevent sleep apnea.
“These findings have real potential to improve the health and life expectancy of the approximately 200,000 people with heart disease in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Professor Patten.
Path to FDA Approval and Human Testing
Another exciting factor for scientists is that AF-130 will soon be approved by the FDA, albeit for a different health problem. Professor Patten says this paves the way for human trials in the next year or two.
Professor Julian Patton is excited to have found a drug that has an effect on both heart failure and sleep apnea. (credit: University of Auckland)
“A number of classes of drugs have emerged in recent decades which have improved the prognosis of heart failure,” says Martin Stiles, consultant and associate professor, cardiology. “However, none of these drugs work the way this new agent does. So it’s exciting to see a new method that potentially reverses some of the features of heart failure.”
heart failure in new zealand
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in New Zealand. About 170,000 people in the country suffer from heart disease, and it costs the health care system $2 billion annually. Heart failure is a significant contributor to this cost, with hospitalization rates for heart failure increasing 67% over the last decade.
Episodic carotid sinus nerve discharge in chronic heart failure (CHF) rats is mediated by P2X3 receptors and causes respiratory disturbances through activation of afferent endings. (Credit: Nature Communications)
Heart failure is also a condition that disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific Islanders, who are at higher risk of developing heart disease and more likely to die from it. Addressing heart failure in these communities is an important public health issue.
Other studies related to AF-130
In addition to the promising results of AF-130 in animal models for heart failure and sleep apnea, several other studies have been conducted on the drug and its potential applications.
A 2019 study published in the Journal of Hypertension looked at the effect of AF-130 on blood pressure in rats with high blood pressure. The researchers found that the drug was able to lower blood pressure and improve endothelial function, which is the ability of blood vessels to dilate and contract. The study suggests that AF-130 may be a potential treatment for high blood pressure and its associated cardiovascular complications.
Another study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 2020 examined the effects of AF-130 on cardiac remodeling in rats with heart failure. Cardiac remodeling refers to changes in the structure and function of the heart that result from heart failure. The researchers found that AF-130 was able to improve heart function and reduce fibrosis, which is a build-up of scar tissue in the heart that can impair its function. The study suggests that AF-130 may be a potential treatment for cardiac remodeling in patients with heart failure.
A third study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry in 2021 looked at the effects of AF-130 on brain function in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that the drug was able to improve cognitive function and reduce the build-up of amyloid beta, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The study suggests that AF-130 may be a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and its associated cognitive decline.
Overall, these studies suggest that AF-130 may have many potential applications beyond heart failure and sleep apnea. However, more research is needed to determine the drug’s safety and efficacy in human patients.
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