Alzheimer’s disease is a serious brain condition that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills.
It affects millions of people around the world and is especially common in older adults.
Now, new research from Fudan University in Shanghai may help us better understand and treat this disease in the future.
The study focuses on a protein called TRPM7, which helps control important processes in brain cells. TRPM7 works as both an ion channel and a kinase—meaning it helps carry electrical signals and supports cell activities. Scientists believe it may play a key role in how Alzheimer’s disease develops.
One of the main problems in Alzheimer’s is the buildup of amyloid-β proteins. These proteins clump together to form sticky plaques in the brain. These plaques interfere with how brain cells talk to each other and can lead to memory loss and confusion.
In this study, researchers found that people with Alzheimer’s have lower levels of TRPM7 in their brains. The same was true in special mice that were made to show symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s.
This led scientists to wonder: Could increasing TRPM7 levels help reduce the effects of the disease? To test this, they boosted TRPM7 in mice that were likely to build up amyloid-β. The results were hopeful.
The mice showed better brain function and were able to form new connections between brain cells. Their memory and thinking skills also improved.
The researchers also discovered that part of the TRPM7 protein activates another protein called MMP14. This protein helps break down and remove the harmful amyloid-β from the brain. This means TRPM7 might not only help the brain work better—it could also help clear out one of the major causes of damage in Alzheimer’s.
While these findings are exciting, scientists are still cautious. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, and other proteins like tau—which forms tangles in the brain—also play a role. It’s possible that Alzheimer’s comes from a mix of different problems in the brain, not just one cause.
The cost of Alzheimer’s is very high, both for families and for healthcare systems. In the United States alone, the disease costs around $355 billion each year. And as more people grow older, the number of Alzheimer’s cases will likely rise. This could put even more pressure on hospitals and caregivers.
The research from Fudan University, led by Shimeng Zhang, offers a new direction. If future studies confirm these results in humans, we might one day have a new treatment that can slow or even reverse some of the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.
This study was published in the journal Science Signaling. It reminds us that ongoing research is key to solving some of the most difficult health problems we face today. With more discoveries like this, there is real hope for better treatments in the future.
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