Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz have made an important discovery that may change how we think about aging, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Their new research suggests that changes in brain cells, including the gradual loss of neurons, may begin much earlier in life than previously believed.
At the same time, the study offers hope by showing that a drug already approved for other medical uses might help slow this damage and improve memory in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that slowly damages the brain. Over time, people may lose their memory, have trouble thinking clearly, and struggle with daily tasks.
One of the biggest challenges in treating Alzheimer’s is that damage to brain cells begins many years before symptoms become obvious. By the time memory problems appear, a large number of brain cells may already be lost.
The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, looked closely at proteins in the blood that come from damaged or dying brain cells.
These proteins act like signals, showing how much stress or injury the brain is experiencing. The researchers examined blood samples from people of many different ages, from early life to old age, to see how these markers change over time.
They found that two important proteins, called UCH-L1 and NfL, are present at very low levels early in life. As people age, the levels of these proteins increase every year, rising much faster later in life.
This rise likely reflects normal aging at first, but in older adults, higher levels were linked to worse brain health and poorer thinking ability. This suggests that what starts as a normal aging process may become harmful as time goes on.
The researchers also studied another protein called GFAP, which is linked to brain inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, but long-term inflammation in the brain can damage neurons.
The study showed that GFAP levels rise noticeably starting around age 40. Interestingly, women tended to have higher levels of GFAP and UCH-L1 than men as they aged, although the reasons for this difference are still not clear.
Alongside these findings, the study explored the effects of a drug called sargramostim, also known as Leukine. This drug is a man-made version of a natural protein called GM-CSF, which helps control the immune system. Sargramostim has been used safely for about 30 years, mainly to help cancer patients recover immune cells after treatment.
In animal studies, GM-CSF has been shown to reduce brain inflammation, slow neuron loss, and even reverse memory problems within weeks. These promising results led researchers to test sargramostim in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
In a small clinical trial, people with Alzheimer’s who received sargramostim showed a surprising drop in blood levels of UCH-L1, the marker of neuron death. The reduction was about 40 percent, bringing levels close to what is normally seen in early life. This result strongly suggests that the drug may slow or reduce the loss of brain cells.
Even more encouraging, participants who received the drug also showed improvement on one memory test called the Mini-Mental State Exam. This test measures basic thinking skills such as memory, attention, and language.
While other memory tests did not show clear changes, the improvement on this widely used test was meaningful. Notably, the memory benefit lasted even after the drug was stopped, although the blood marker of neuron damage returned to previous levels after about 45 days.
These results raise important questions. It is still unclear whether sargramostim must be taken continuously to protect brain cells or whether short treatments could have lasting benefits. Researchers also want to know whether the drug could help slow normal age-related memory decline, not just Alzheimer’s disease.
The scientists caution that these findings are still early. Changes in brain-related proteins in the blood are expected during normal aging, and this drug has not yet been approved for Alzheimer’s treatment.
A larger and longer clinical trial is now underway to better understand its safety and effectiveness in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
In reviewing and analyzing these findings, the study offers two major insights. First, brain cell stress and loss may begin much earlier in life than most people realize, which highlights the importance of early monitoring and prevention.
Second, the fact that an existing drug can reduce signs of neuron death and improve memory, even for a short time, is very promising.
While sargramostim is not a cure, it may represent a new way to slow brain damage rather than simply treat symptoms. If future trials confirm these results, this research could mark an important step toward better treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about New Alzheimer’s treatment: anti-inflammatory drug may prevent memory loss and findings of The diabetes drug surprise: a possible shield against Alzheimer’s?
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Scientists find connection between fungus and Alzheimer’s disease and findings of Scientists find links between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease.
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