Alzheimer’s disease is the most common brain condition that causes memory loss and dementia in older people. It affects millions of people around the world. Despite years of research, scientists still don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s and have not yet found a cure.
For a long time, many researchers believed that Alzheimer’s was caused by a sticky protein called amyloid-beta building up in the brain. These clumps are often seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
However, some new studies suggest another idea. They believe that the way our cells produce energy may play a bigger role in causing the disease.
Inside our cells, there are tiny structures called mitochondria. These are like power plants for the cell. They help turn food into energy that our body can use. When mitochondria stop working well, it can cause many problems, especially in the brain, which needs a lot of energy to work properly.
A new study from Yale-NUS College supports this idea. The researchers found that problems with metabolism—the way the body makes and uses energy—might actually come before the brain is filled with amyloid-beta. This suggests that these energy problems could be the real starting point of the disease.
To study this, the scientists used a tiny worm called Caenorhabditis elegans. Even though they are small, these worms have cells that work a lot like human cells. The researchers saw that the worms began to show metabolic problems even before any protein clumps appeared in their brains. This was a big discovery.
Then the scientists tried treating the worms with a medicine called Metformin. This drug is commonly used by people with diabetes to control blood sugar. After the treatment, the worms were healthier and lived longer. Their cells produced energy better, and the signs of damage were reduced.
This research suggests that if we can fix these energy problems early—before the brain becomes damaged—we might be able to stop or delay Alzheimer’s. It may be better to focus on keeping cells and mitochondria healthy, rather than only trying to clean up amyloid-beta after it has already caused harm.
The researchers believe that problems with metabolism and mitochondria are just a normal part of getting older. Diseases like Alzheimer’s may actually be part of the natural aging process. So instead of treating each disease one by one, it could be smarter to focus on slowing down aging itself.
This new way of thinking could open the door to better treatments and even prevention. If doctors can find and fix early signs of aging in our cells, people might stay healthier for longer and have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The study was led by Jan Gruber and published in the journal eLife. It gives scientists and doctors a fresh look at how to fight Alzheimer’s by focusing on how our cells age and how they make energy.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, 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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