Researchers from Yale-NUS College have made an important discovery that could change how we think about Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a brain condition that causes memory loss and thinking problems, especially in older adults.
It is the most common cause of dementia and the leading brain disease worldwide. In Singapore, about one in ten people over age 60 have some form of dementia, often due to Alzheimer’s.
Scientists have studied Alzheimer’s for many years, but they still don’t know exactly what causes it, and there is no cure. Most research has focused on a protein called amyloid-beta, which builds up in the brain and forms plaques. These plaques are believed to damage the brain and cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
However, a new study suggests a different cause. The research team found that Alzheimer’s may be linked to problems with the body’s metabolism—how cells use energy. In particular, they looked at mitochondria, the parts of cells that produce energy.
The researchers found signs of energy problems before there was any big increase in amyloid-beta. This means the brain’s energy system might start failing before the plaques form.
To study this, the scientists used a small worm called Caenorhabditis elegans. Even though it is tiny, this worm shares many biological features with humans and is often used in medical research. The team found that these worms showed signs of Alzheimer’s-like problems when their metabolism was not working well.
One exciting part of the study was the use of Metformin, a common diabetes drug. When the worms were treated with Metformin, their metabolism improved and they lived longer, healthier lives. This suggests that Metformin might help fix the energy problems linked to Alzheimer’s and could be a possible treatment for the disease in the future.
This research is important because it offers a new way to look at Alzheimer’s. Instead of only focusing on the brain plaques that appear later in the disease, scientists are now exploring whether treating energy problems early could prevent the disease from starting in the first place.
The idea fits with a growing belief in medicine: that many illnesses that come with aging, like Alzheimer’s, might be prevented or slowed down by looking at the root causes of aging. If we can keep our metabolism and mitochondria healthy as we age, we may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases.
The study, led by Jan Gruber and published in the journal eLife, encourages researchers to explore new treatments that target how the body produces energy. Instead of just treating symptoms after they appear, this approach looks at preventing the disease altogether.
This research shows how all parts of our body are connected. By understanding how energy production in our cells affects brain health, we might find better ways to treat or even prevent Alzheimer’s. It also reminds us of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and metabolism in protecting the brain as we get older.
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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