Discovery of hidden driver of Alzheimer’s could lead to new treatments, scientists say
Scientists may have just found a new driver of Alzheimer’s
- A new study suggests that brain cells "clogged" with fat, specifically in resident immune cells, such as the microglia, could be a significant driver of Alzheimer's disease.
- This research shifts the focus from the long-held belief that protein plaques and tangles are the primary cause of the neurodegenerative condition.
- Excess fat accumulation impairs microglia, preventing them from effectively clearing misfolded proteins like amyloid beta and tau, which are associated with Alzheimer's.
- The study found that the extent of fat accumulation in microglia increased with patient age and disease progression, making these cells dysfunctional.
- Researchers identified an enzyme contributing to this fat accumulation, suggesting that targeting this enzyme could restore the brain's immune defence and lead to new therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.