Scientists at Purdue University have developed a tiny device that simulates the human brain. They’re using it to understand what happens when the brain experiences a hard hit, like in a football game or car accident.
The researchers discovered that such blows can quickly lead to changes in the brain that are seen in Alzheimer’s disease. This means the damage may start way sooner than we thought—within hours, not years.
How They Did It
The team created a small chamber filled with brain cells and nutrients. They used a pendulum to hit the chamber with force, similar to what you’d experience in a severe collision.
They monitored the activity of the brain cells and even took them out at intervals to look for any chemical changes.
What they found was startling. After a hit, the brain cells produced more of a harmful molecule called acrolein and started to form clumps of a protein called amyloid beta 42 (AB42).
These protein clumps are seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. So, a single hard blow to the head could be setting off a chain reaction that leads to long-term brain damage.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just academic; it has real-world implications. Many people experience head injuries at some point, especially in certain sports like football or in car accidents.
This research helps us understand that the damage starts right away. It’s like knocking down a critical support beam in a house; the whole structure can collapse.
In the same way, these immediate changes in the brain can lead to significant problems later in life.
The device also helps in testing medicines that could reverse the damage. In the study, the researchers used a drug called hydralazine, commonly used for lowering blood pressure, to treat the affected brain cells.
They found that this drug reduced the harmful acrolein levels and stopped the clumps of AB42 from forming. This offers hope that immediate treatment after a head injury could prevent long-term damage.
What’s Next?
The researchers plan to add more features to their tiny brain-like device. This could allow them to measure even smaller forces that brain cells experience during a hit.
They’re also looking at ways to test the cells without removing them from the chamber, making it easier to understand what happens over time.
So, the takeaway is clear: If you get a head injury, the clock starts ticking right away for potential long-term damage. Immediate medical attention and treatment might be crucial for protecting your brain health down the line.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in Lab on a Chip.
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