A new study from USC Stem Cell researchers has uncovered a promising way to reduce toxic tau buildup in the brain—a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.
The breakthrough offers a safer alternative to previous treatment ideas that focused on limiting glutamate, a chemical crucial to brain activity but also known to worsen tau-related damage when present in excess.
Glutamate plays a major role in memory, mood, and brain function, acting as a key messenger between brain cells. But in people with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, too much glutamate activity can trigger a toxic chain reaction.
It causes tau proteins, which normally help support brain cell structure, to clump together. These tau clumps disrupt brain function and eventually kill nerve cells.
While it might seem logical to try reducing glutamate to slow this process, that approach has serious risks. According to Dr. Justin Ichida, who led the study at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, cutting back on glutamate can cause memory loss, motor problems, or even unconsciousness—making it a dangerous strategy.
Instead of targeting glutamate itself, the research team looked for ways to help the brain clear out toxic tau proteinsnaturally. They used lab-grown mini-brains, called organoids, created from stem cells from both healthy people and patients with tau-related brain diseases. When exposed to glutamate, the diseased organoids showed clear signs of tau buildup and nerve cell death.
The same pattern was seen in mice with a genetic mutation that causes a tau-related form of dementia.
To dig deeper, the scientists searched for genes that become active when glutamate levels rise. One gene, KCTD20, stood out. When they blocked this gene in both mice and brain organoids, the tau clumps stopped forming, and brain cells stayed healthy—even in the presence of glutamate.
How? By activating lysosomes, the brain’s built-in cleanup system. Lysosomes are tiny “recycling centers” inside cells. When KCTD20 was suppressed, lysosomes sprang into action—wrapping around the toxic tau proteins and removing them from the cells.
This study points to a new and safer way to treat Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. Instead of lowering glutamate (and risking serious side effects), researchers could target KCTD20 to help the brain naturally defend itself.
“This shows that enhancing the brain’s ability to clear tau is a powerful therapeutic strategy,” said Dr. Jesse Lai, one of the study’s co-authors. Another researcher, Dr. Joshua Berlind, added: “This could lead to more targeted and effective treatments.”
While this research is still in its early stages, it opens the door for new drug development. Scientists now hope to create treatments that safely block KCTD20 or boost lysosome activity, offering a new way to protect the brain from the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.
The findings were published in Neuron and represent a major step forward in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases. With further research and testing, this new strategy could bring hope to the millions of people and families affected by Alzheimer’s.
If you’re interested in learning more about brain health, other studies have also explored how vitamin D, strawberries, and certain foods might reduce Alzheimer’s risk, while oral cannabis extracts have shown early promise in easing symptoms.
For now, this discovery offers new hope in the search for treatments that fight Alzheimer’s at its core—without harming the brain in the process.
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 health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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