Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[Doktornolittle]

Insomnia and AD are likely tied. It is known that the accumulated misfolded proteins and other waste is normally expelled from the brain cells during a certain part of sleep. The brain cells contract dramatically opening the interstitial space, then the cells vibrate, allowing this waste to make it's way through the cell membranes into the lymph system where it is carried away. If you don't sleep, this cycle cannot happen.

This is a relatively recent finding. Why would 2-73 do this which it was not designed to do? Maybe there is a negative feedback where accumulation of this waste makes sleep difficult, so the patient accumulates even more waste, etc., etc., etc.. Maybe 2-73 breaks this cycle by reducing misfolding etc a little, which improves sleep a little, which reduces waste a little, which improves sleep a little, which reduces waste a little... etc., etc., etc..

It would be nice to know why, but as long as it is not placebo effect, and the effect is long lasting, then it is a big deal regardless of the mechanism. Assuming this is all real. It appears to be real.

Note that the misfolded protein segments that cannot be metabolized are shoved into the cell membrane by the cell. Maybe this shaking by the cell during contraction assists further migration into the interstitial space. No point in shoving the fragments into another, adjacent cell. Better to require this shaking which only happens when the cells are dramatically contracted.