Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that gradually destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Most people with the late-onset form of the disease start showing symptoms in their mid-60s. Currently, there is no cure, and experts predict that more than 100 million people worldwide could be affected by 2050.
Scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have now identified a new protein that may contribute to the disease. Alzheimer’s research has long focused on two harmful proteins, amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, which build up in the brain and are thought to drive the disease.
However, in some cases, the severity of Alzheimer’s symptoms does not match the levels of these proteins, suggesting that other factors may also play a role.
In this study, researchers set out to find additional proteins that might be involved in nerve cell damage and brain degeneration. They tested human brain extracts on neurons grown in the lab, using samples from about 40 people.
These individuals fell into three categories: those with Alzheimer’s, those who had high Aβ and tau levels but were protected from Alzheimer’s, and those who were Alzheimer’s-free with little or no Aβ and tau in their brains.
Their findings pointed to a protein called ganglioside GM2 activator (GM2A). This protein was able to reduce the activity of neurons and damage neurites—tiny branches that help nerve cells communicate with each other. These effects suggest that GM2A may play a role in triggering Alzheimer’s, worsening its progression, or both.
Interestingly, GM2A has been linked to another brain disorder, a lysosomal storage disease similar to Tay-Sachs. Like Alzheimer’s, Tay-Sachs leads to the destruction of neurons. This connection could help researchers understand more about how brain cells break down in neurodegenerative diseases.
By identifying GM2A as a potential contributor to Alzheimer’s, this study opens up new possibilities for research. Scientists hope that further investigation into this protein could lead to better treatments or even new ways to prevent the disease.
The study was led by Tracy Young-Pearse and published in Molecular Neurodegeneration.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
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