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October 2023
By: Katrin Chunkovsky
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have made a significant step forward in understanding Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated on a study that identified two specific types of brain cells associated with a reduced risk of dementia in older individuals, even in the presence of Alzheimer 's-related brain abnormalities. The common belief about Alzheimer's is that sticky amyloid proteins clump together in the brain, harming neurons and causing memory loss. But not everyone with memory problems has these amyloid clumps, and some with them don't get Alzheimer’s. This confusion made scientists study Alzheimer's more closely.
Using data from a large-scale study tracking cognitive and motor skills in thousands of individuals throughout old age, the researchers examined brain tissue samples from 427 participants who had passed away. Focusing on the prefrontal cortex, a region crucial for higher brain function, they sequenced active genes in each cell, identifying two specific cell types that stood out: one expressing reelin, a protein associated with brain disorders, and another expressing somatostatin, a hormone regulating bodily processes.
The study revealed a striking pattern: individuals with greater cognitive impairment had fewer of these specific cells, while those with no impairment had high numbers of these cells, even in the presence of significant amyloid accumulation. These cells, called inhibitory neurons, which slow down brain communication, were previously unknown in Alzheimer's research. While past research mainly looked at excitatory neurons (those that send signals), this study's focus on inhibitory neurons reveals new insights. The vulnerable inhibitory cells with reelin or somatostatin suggest a potential area for treatment. Protecting these cells might be a new path for innovative Alzheimer's treatments, moving away from traditional approaches targeting amyloid clumps.
Neurologist Lea Grinberg praised the study for its groundbreaking approach. She emphasized the potential to protect these specific brain cells, signaling a shift in Alzheimer's research. The openly available brain atlas offers a global foundation for research, promising fresh perspectives and inventive treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
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