Alzheimer’s disease is a serious brain condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It slowly damages memory, thinking, and the ability to do everyday tasks. Over time, the disease gets worse and can take away a person’s independence.
The main cause of Alzheimer’s is the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain. These are called beta-amyloid plaques and tangles, and they destroy brain cells.
Scientists are working hard to find ways to catch the disease early—before major symptoms start. Early detection gives doctors a better chance to help slow down the disease.
A recent study from the University of California San Diego has found a new lead. The researchers discovered that an enzyme in the blood called PHGDH might be a warning sign for Alzheimer’s. PHGDH helps the body make an important building block called serine, which is needed to make proteins and keep the brain healthy.
The scientists studied brain tissue from people aged 50 and older. Some of these people had Alzheimer’s, some had early signs, and some were completely healthy. The researchers looked at four different groups, each with 40 to 50 people.
They found that people with Alzheimer’s or early signs of it had more PHGDH in their brains. Even people who didn’t have memory problems yet but had high PHGDH levels were likely in the early stages of the disease.
As the disease got worse, PHGDH levels kept going up. This was seen not only in people but also in two groups of lab mice used to study Alzheimer’s. The researchers also found that people who did worse on memory and thinking tests had higher PHGDH levels. This shows that PHGDH might be linked to how badly the disease affects the brain.
These findings are important. They suggest that testing PHGDH levels in the blood could help doctors spot Alzheimer’s early—before a person even notices memory problems. This could give people and their families more time to prepare and get support.
But the study also raises some concerns. Some people think that taking serine as a supplement might help prevent or treat Alzheimer’s.
Since PHGDH makes serine, and PHGDH levels are already high in people with Alzheimer’s, the researchers warn that taking extra serine could make things worse. Clinical trials are already testing serine supplements in older adults, but this new study says we need to be careful.
The study was led by Sheng Zhong and published in the journal Cell Metabolism. It adds to what scientists know about how Alzheimer’s develops and shows that PHGDH could be a useful early sign of the disease. More research is needed to understand PHGDH’s role and to find out if targeting it could lead to new treatments.
There’s still no cure for Alzheimer’s, but people can take steps to lower their risk. Regular exercise helps keep the brain healthy by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation. Eating a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, is also good for brain health. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy oils.
Staying mentally active—by reading, solving puzzles, or spending time with others—can support memory and thinking. Managing other health problems, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, is also important because these can raise the risk of Alzheimer’s.
In short, this new study shows that PHGDH could help doctors find Alzheimer’s early. It also reminds us to be careful with new treatments like serine supplements. While more research is needed, this discovery is an exciting step forward in understanding and fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
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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