Warning signs of Alzheimer's disease: Researchers find new evidence

Increased activity in areas of the brain indicates Alzheimer's disease

Previous studies have shown that patients at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease experience increased neuronal activity in the early stages of the disease. This activity was evident in brain scans in certain parts of the brain long before the first symptoms appeared.

Chinese researchers discovered in one studyNearly one-third of people tested who had a genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease had corresponding “spells of activity.” In another study, scientists from… University of California SteadilyPeople with Alzheimer's disease, who have significant spikes in brain activity, tend to be diagnosed at an early age.

Experiments on mice showed increased activity in parts of the brain

Seizure-like activity can be caused by nerve cell damage. However, the mechanisms underlying neuronal excitability in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease remain unclear. Previous research suggests that abnormal levels of calcium ions in cells and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, a major feature of Alzheimer's disease, may be responsible for changes in activity.

Molecular biologist Yeeun Yook of the University of Illinois and his colleagues also discovered a neuron-specific protein (PSD-95). The protein enhances the excitatory activity of synapses, the connections between nerve cells, by recruiting more receptors. In a series of behavioral and tissue experiments on mice, the researchers found elevated levels of PSD-95 caused by the presence of Aβ. The researchers were also able to show how the protein was the driving force behind seizure activity. On the other hand, PSD-95 inhibition caused less synaptic activity and fewer seizures in mice.

Protein could provide early clues to Alzheimer's disease

“Our results show that PSD-95 is a major contributor to hyperexcitability in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease,” says Nien-Pei Tsai, a molecular biologist at the University of Illinois and lead author of the study. “So we think that PSD-95 could be an early biomarker that indicates that a patient may have Alzheimer's disease or increased susceptibility to seizures,” Nien-Pei Tsai said.

Of course, translating these findings into clinical applications will still require a lot of work. However, researchers are confident that PSD-85 could be a new warning marker in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. “Verifying this prediction could support our original hypothesis that PSD-95-dependent neuronal defects occur early in the disease and that inhibiting PSD-95, at least in the early phase of the disease, can slow the progression of symptoms.” The team concluded.

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