American scientists identify a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease. This can slow the disease or stop its progression.
In neurodegenerative disease, nerve cells in the brain gradually lose their function and die. In addition to Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS, the most common diseases include Alzheimer's disease. According to, in Germany alone German Alzheimer's Association About 1.8 million people suffer from dementia. Most of them live with Alzheimer's disease. While there are various treatments designed to prevent the progression of the disease, a cure for Alzheimer's disease is not yet possible. Researchers from the USA have now presented a new treatment approach that is said to be effective in the early stages. Their results He studies It was published in the specialized magazine iScience published.
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Stop dementia? Researchers are studying a new treatment method
The team surrounding Scott Selleck from Pennsylvania State University In her current study, she identified a group of proteins that are involved in the development of neurodegenerative disease. The building blocks of protein are said to be responsible for the abnormal accumulation of proteins in brain cells. These accumulations can disrupt the decomposition processes in brain cells, which in turn leads to the formation of so-called plaques. The deposits disrupt the faulty communication between nerve cells that is typical of dementia and block the supply of nutrients.
These accumulations have been previously observed in previous studies. But until now, the role it plays in the development of the disease was not known. By analyzing human cells and brain cells from mice with Alzheimer's disease, researchers in the current study were able to show the relationship between protein accumulation and the development of various neurodegenerative diseases.
A new therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease: further studies are necessary
“In the early stages of many neurodegenerative diseases, cellular degeneration is impaired, which means the cells have less repair capacity,” explains Scott Sellick, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UCLA. Penn State Eberly College of Sciencein one press release. According to Slick, the new treatment approach could be effective in the early stages.
This is interesting research that shows how cells can be protected from the effects of genetic mutations that cause Alzheimer's disease.
However, expert Katherine Gray, head of research at the American Alzheimer's Association, stresses the need for more research. “Since the processes have only been shown in fruit flies and human cells outside the brain, it is difficult to say how significant the results are at the moment. “We are excited about the next phase of this research to see if similar effects can be observed in human cells,” explains Catherine Gray to the scientific journal. The human brain. Medical news today.
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