Scientists from the University of Vermont have made a promising discovery that could lead to new ways of treating reduced blood flow in the brain and some types of dementia.
Their research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that replacing a missing fat molecule in the blood might help restore healthy brain blood flow and improve symptoms linked to dementia.
The study was led by Dr. Osama Harraz, a professor at the university’s Larner College of Medicine. He explained that this new finding is a major step forward in understanding how brain blood flow works and how problems in the blood vessels may lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Dementia is a growing problem around the world. About 50 million people are currently affected, and that number is expected to rise. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
Researchers have been working for years to figure out how changes in the brain—like harmful proteins, inflammation, or damaged cells—lead to memory loss and confusion. This new study adds another piece to the puzzle by looking at how blood flows through the brain.
The scientists focused on a protein called Piezo1. This protein sits in the walls of blood vessels and acts like a sensor. It detects the force of blood moving through the vessels and helps control how much blood the brain gets.
Piezo1 is very important for keeping brain blood flow balanced. But in people with certain forms of dementia, this protein becomes overactive and starts causing problems.
The researchers found that a specific lipid, or fat molecule, called PIP2 plays a key role in keeping Piezo1 activity under control. PIP2 is naturally found in the membranes of brain cells. It acts like a brake for Piezo1, keeping it from working too hard.
When PIP2 levels drop, the brake is removed, and Piezo1 becomes too active. This causes poor blood flow in the brain, which can make dementia symptoms worse.
To test their theory, the scientists added PIP2 back into the system in lab experiments. The results were impressive: Piezo1 activity returned to normal, and healthy blood flow was restored. This means that boosting PIP2 levels could be a possible way to treat brain blood flow problems and slow the progress of dementia.
The next step for researchers is to better understand how PIP2 interacts with Piezo1. They want to know if PIP2 connects directly to the protein or changes the shape of the cell membrane to control it. They also plan to study how diseases like Alzheimer’s cause PIP2 levels to drop in the first place.
These future studies will help scientists figure out whether replacing PIP2 or blocking Piezo1 directly could be safe and effective treatments for dementia. If successful, it could lead to new medications that help the brain get the blood it needs to function well.
This discovery opens up a new path for treating conditions linked to poor brain circulation. By restoring a simple fat molecule, doctors may one day improve brain health and offer hope to people with dementia and their families.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
