New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are far less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without MS.
This surprising discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding and potentially treating Alzheimer’s.
Multiple sclerosis is a condition where the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to a range of symptoms, including cognitive issues.
Alzheimer’s disease, on the other hand, is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are linked to cognitive decline.
Dr. Matthew Brier, an assistant professor of neurology and radiology and the study’s lead author, explained, “Our findings suggest that some aspect of the biology of MS, or the genetics of people with MS, could be protective against Alzheimer’s.
If we can identify what that protective factor is, it might help us develop new treatments for Alzheimer’s.”
The study, published in the Annals of Neurology, was inspired by observations made by Dr. Anne Cross, a long-time MS specialist at Washington University.
Over the years, Dr. Cross noticed that her MS patients, even those with a family history of Alzheimer’s or who were old enough to be at risk, rarely developed the disease.
This observation led her to team up with Dr. Brier and other researchers to investigate further.
To test their hypothesis, the team used a new blood test developed at Washington University, called PrecivityAD2, which can accurately predict the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain.
This blood test is a less invasive alternative to brain scans or spinal taps, which were previously required to detect amyloid plaques.
The researchers recruited 100 MS patients and compared their blood test results with those of 300 people without MS but similar in age and genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.
Remarkably, they found that MS patients were 50% less likely to have amyloid plaques than those without MS, supporting Dr. Cross’s initial observation.
The study also found that patients with a more typical MS history—characterized by an earlier age of onset, more flare-ups, and more severe disease progression—were even less likely to have amyloid plaques.
This suggests that something about the nature of MS itself may protect against Alzheimer’s.
The researchers believe that the immune activity associated with MS flare-ups might play a role in reducing amyloid plaques in the brain. Dr. Brier noted that activated microglia, which are immune cells in the brain, have been shown to clear amyloid plaques in animal studies.
Dr. Brier and Dr. Cross are now planning further research to explore the genetic factors that might be involved and to study amyloid plaque development in animal models of MS.
Their work could lead to new insights and potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, offering hope to millions of people worldwide.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Washington University in St. Louis.
