Alzheimer’s disease is a serious condition that mostly affects older people. It is the most common form of dementia and causes memory loss, thinking problems, and changes in behavior.
Although there are some treatments that can help with the symptoms, scientists have not yet found a cure. That’s why researchers around the world are working hard to understand what causes Alzheimer’s.
There are two main ideas about why Alzheimer’s happens. One popular idea is that a sticky protein called amyloid-beta builds up in the brain. This buildup can block the way brain cells talk to each other.
The second idea, which is more recent, focuses on problems with metabolism, especially in the tiny energy factories inside our cells called mitochondria. When mitochondria don’t work properly, cells can’t produce enough energy to stay healthy.
A new study from Yale-NUS College, led by Jan Gruber, supports the second idea. The research team used tiny worms called Caenorhabditis elegans. Even though they are small, these worms have cell systems similar to humans.
The team found that in these worms, problems with metabolism appeared before the amyloid-beta protein started to build up. This means that the metabolism issues might be the cause of the disease, not just a result of it.
One exciting part of the study was the use of Metformin, a common medicine used by people with diabetes. When the worms were given Metformin, it fixed their metabolism problems and made them live longer and healthier lives. This gives hope that treating metabolic problems could help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.
The study also raises an interesting idea. It suggests that Alzheimer’s might not be a separate disease, but rather a sign of aging. As we grow older, our bodies and cells change. If we can slow down or fix the changes that come with aging—like mitochondrial damage—we might also be able to prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s.
This discovery is a big step forward. It shows that we may need to look more closely at how cells produce energy and how that affects the brain. While more research is needed to see if Metformin can help humans in the same way, this study gives scientists a new path to follow.
The findings were published in the scientific journal eLife. They don’t solve the mystery of Alzheimer’s yet, but they bring us closer to answers and to the possibility of better treatments.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about foods that reduce Alzheimer’s risk, and oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
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