Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of memory loss and confusion in older people worldwide. It is also the most common type of brain disease that gets worse over time, known as a neurodegenerative disorder.
Despite years of research, scientists still do not fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s or how to stop it. This lack of understanding makes it very hard to find a cure.
For many years, two main ideas have been proposed to explain Alzheimer’s. The first theory suggests that a protein called amyloid-beta builds up in the brain and causes damage.
This protein clumps together, forming plaques that are believed to harm brain cells, leading to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Many scientists have focused on this protein in their research, hoping that removing it or stopping its buildup could slow down or prevent the disease.
However, a newer theory has emerged in recent years, focusing on the role of energy production in cells.
Our cells have tiny structures called mitochondria, often called the “powerhouses” of the cells, because they produce the energy cells need to function.
Some researchers now believe that when these mitochondria stop working properly, it can trigger the changes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. This idea points to problems with how cells manage energy as being just as important, if not more so, than the buildup of amyloid-beta.
A recent study conducted by scientists at Yale-NUS College supports this second theory. In their research, they found that problems with cell metabolism, or how cells use energy, start long before the buildup of amyloid-beta proteins can be detected.
This suggests that energy problems might be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s, even before any plaques form in the brain.
To investigate this further, the researchers used a tiny worm called Caenorhabditis elegans. These worms share many similarities with human cells, making them useful for studying diseases like Alzheimer’s.
The team discovered that the worms showed signs of metabolic problems early on, similar to what happens in human cells as they age.
An exciting discovery came when the researchers treated the worms with a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, called Metformin. This drug is often prescribed to people to help control their blood sugar levels.
In the worms, Metformin reversed the early metabolic problems, and the worms lived longer and healthier lives. This finding hints at the possibility that drugs like Metformin could be used to target energy issues in the brain before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear.
Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that a new approach to preventing Alzheimer’s could focus on treating these metabolic problems, particularly those related to mitochondria, early on.
This means that instead of waiting for amyloid plaques to form or for symptoms to appear, it might be more effective to address the underlying energy issues as soon as possible.
The study also brings up a broader point about aging. As we get older, many of our body’s systems, including how our cells produce energy, start to break down.
The researchers suggest that diseases like Alzheimer’s may be part of the natural aging process, rather than separate diseases that appear out of nowhere.
This could mean that by focusing on how we age and trying to slow down these processes, we might be able to prevent or at least delay diseases like Alzheimer’s.
In conclusion, while much remains unknown about Alzheimer’s disease, this study offers hope that by understanding and treating the energy problems in cells early, we might be able to prevent the disease from developing.
The research was led by Jan Gruber and his team and was published in the scientific journal eLife. This new approach could change how we think about Alzheimer’s and aging, offering potential new ways to keep our brains healthier for longer.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and epilepsy drug may help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
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