Novel Vitamin K Analogues Show Promise for Neuron Regeneration in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Researchers from Japan’s Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed potent vitamin K analogues capable of stimulating neuron regeneration, offering hope for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, the study revealed that the newly synthesized compounds were three times more effective at promoting neuronal differentiation than natural vitamin K. The team created 12 hybrid molecules by combining vitamin K with retinoic acid and other functional groups, identifying one standout analogue—Novel VK—that enhanced neural growth and crossed the blood-brain barrier efficiently. Further analysis showed that vitamin K promotes neuron formation through metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1)-mediated pathways. Novel VK displayed strong binding affinity to mGluR1 and converted to active MK-4 more readily in cells and mice. These findings highlight vitamin K’s untapped neuroregenerative potential and pave the way for new therapies targeting neuronal loss in neurodegenerative disorders.

20-10-2025