In a new study from the University Hospital Bonn, researchers found long before the onset of dementia, there is evidence for increased activity of the brain’s immune system.
Various proteins were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid: They served as so-called biomarkers that indicate inflammatory processes of the nervous system.
As it turned out, some of these molecules seem to be part of a damage control program of the immune system, which could be useful for the development of new drugs.
In recent years, it has become evident that the brain’s immune system and related inflammatory processes—also known as “neuroinflammation”—significantly contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the study, the team found that some of these inflammatory markers are conspicuous even when there are no symptoms of dementia yet.
The current study project included findings from around 300 women and men, all over the age of 60.
This group comprised cognitively normal adults, individuals with memory problems of varying degrees of severity and also people with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.
The team found that most inflammatory markers are elevated, especially when a marker for neuronal damage is elevated. This applies even when these individuals do not yet show symptoms of dementia.
Thus, the inflammatory markers they recorded are particularly useful for studying neuroinflammation at the early stages of the disease.
Two of these markers in particular—proteins belonging to the “TAM receptor family”—seem to be linked to a damage control program.
In study participants with particular levels of these high markers, brain volume was comparatively large and cognitive functions declined more slowly over time.
To verify these findings, the team evaluated data from more than 700 adults, most of whom with mild cognitive impairment. This analysis confirmed the results.
The team says inflammatory processes are not bad per se, but rather a normal, protective reaction of the immune system to threatening stimuli, especially at the beginning.
But they should not last too long, therefore they need to be regulated. Supporting this protective function would be an interesting approach for drug research.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how to eat your way to a healthy brain, and how to prevent brain aging effectively.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about the cause of severe inflammation in COVID-19, and results showing this hormone may reduce irregular heartbeat, inflammation.
The study is published in Neuron. One author of the study is Prof. Michael Heneka.
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