Combatting heart disease and sleep apnoea
A novel drug is showing promise for alleviating both heart failure, and the sleep apnoea associated with it.
The drug, known as AF-130, was tested in an animal model at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland where researchers found it improved the heart’s ability to pump, but, equally important, prevented sleep apnoea, which itself reduces lifespan.
“This drug does offer benefit for heart failure, but it’s two for the price of one, in that it’s also relieving the apnoea for which there is currently no drug, only CPAP (a breathing device), which is poorly tolerated,” says Professor Julian Paton, director of the University’s Manaaki Manawa, Centre for Heart Research.
Most patients die within five years of a heart failure diagnosis. The new study has revealed the first drug to temper the nervous activity from the brain to the heart thereby reversing the heart’s progressive decline in heart failure,” says Professor Paton.
The part of the brain that sends nervous impulses to the heart is also controlling respiration, so this drug also stimulates breathing to stop the sleep apnoea.
“These findings have real potential for improving the wellness and life expectancy of almost 200,000 people living with heart disease in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Professor Paton.
