Tag: Alzheimer's

Some brain regions are more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease than others. A new study suggests that this might be due to how they uptake cholesterol [1]. Why do some parts of the brain succumb earlier? Despite decades of research and vast amounts of funding, scientists still have limited understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops and...

According to an open-label study from Washington University in St. Louis, the anti-amyloid drug gantenerumab reduced the risk of developing familial Alzheimer’s disease in a subgroup of participants [1]. Is it about amyloid beta? Despite billions of dollars invested in developing therapies against Alzheimer’s disease, the progress has been slow. The decades-old amyloid cascade hypothesis...

Yesterday in Aging Cell, researchers published their findings that using gene therapy to overexpress a synaptic promoter increases cognitive ability in ordinary, middle-aged mice. Hevin vs. SPARC Astrocytes are general-purpose helper cells of the brain, and one of their tasks is to maintain synapse structure [1]. They secrete synapse-modifying molecules, including members of the SPARC...

A new study dives into a human-derived probiotic cocktail meant to protect against Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment improves gut health and reduces inflammation in mice [1]. The earlier, the better Early interventions to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease might be a more feasible approach than reversing the disease when it is fully developed. However, such...

Researchers have found that kinesin family member 9 (KIF9), a protein that diminishes with aging, is instrumental in allowing cells to consume harmful proteins and fights Alzheimer's in a mouse model. Consuming amyloids before they become a problem Alzheimer's is well-known as a proteostasis disease: it is characterized by amyloid beta plaques outside the cells...

A novel therapy based on induced neuronal stem cells shows promise in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease – and it can be administered intranasally [1]. Who needs cells? Stem cell therapies have made great strides in recent decades. They have been successfully employed against numerous diseases, from cancer to osteoarthritis. However, storing, transporting, and...