Analysis of gene activity in the brain cells of people who died from Alzheimer’s disease has revealed that Alzheimer’s disease progresses in two stages. Inflammation increases slowly, followed by more rapid degeneration.
Importantly, the first of these stages is limited in scope and occurs before symptoms such as memory loss appear, so opportunities for diagnosis and treatment may occur earlier than currently. is shown.
The second stage is a more pronounced level of destruction and is characterized by the infamous protein plaques and protein build-up, accompanied by severe damage to neurons and loss of cognitive function.
Researchers led by a team from the University of Washington and the Allen Institute for Brain Science profiled the genetic activity of single cells in known regions of the brain. middle temporal gyrusthe main functions of memory, language, and vision are processed.
“This approach identifies the specific highly granular cell types that are affected during the course of the disease, where those affected cells are located in the tissue microstructure, and when they are affected as the disease progresses. It allows for a comprehensive understanding of write The researchers state in their published paper:
The research team analyzed the brains of 84 people who died of Alzheimer’s disease, with an average age of 88 years. They then compared these measurements with the brains of donors without Alzheimer’s disease to identify critical differences.
In addition to discovering distinct pathological stages, researchers have revealed specific damage to the body. cognitively important First stage inhibitory neurons. The researchers suggest that this may be how problems in the neural circuits are triggered in the first place.
In the past, there were excitatory neurons (neurons that activated other neurons). linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The connection here to Alzheimer’s disease is new and interesting because inhibitory neurons are neurons that inactivate or sedate neurons.
The findings provide an important contribution to the comprehensive and published map of the damage that Alzheimer’s disease inflicts on the brain. Seattle Alzheimer’s Brain Cell Atlas (SEA-AD). By tracking this pathway of neuron destruction in more detail, we hope to better understand how Alzheimer’s disease takes hold, what prevents it, and what allows it to develop. It is expected.
As our science and technology become more advanced and capable, we will learn more about the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease. Whether it’s a trigger elsewhere in the body, a connection to another disease, or a hidden early stage that we haven’t discovered before.
“The results of this study will fundamentally change scientists’ understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease negatively affects the brain and will guide the development of new treatments for this devastating disease.” said Richard Hawes, director of the institute. NIH National Institute on Agingwas not directly involved in the study.
This study natural neuroscience.
