Researchers at the University of California San Diego have found that high levels of an enzyme called PHGDH in the blood may serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
By examining brain tissue, they discovered that the gene responsible for PHGDH production was consistently more active in individuals with various stages of Alzheimer’s, including those who had not yet shown any cognitive symptoms.
PHGDH is an enzyme essential for producing an amino acid called serine. In Alzheimer’s patients, the elevated levels of PHGDH indicate that the brain may already be producing more serine than usual.
This suggests that taking extra serine, often marketed as a memory booster, might not be beneficial and could even be unnecessary for those at risk of Alzheimer’s.
The research team had previously identified PHGDH as a potential biomarker for detecting Alzheimer’s early. Intrigued by this, they wanted to confirm if the elevated PHGDH levels in the blood were directly linked to changes in the brain.
In their latest study, they found strong evidence supporting this link by analyzing genetic data from brain samples collected from four groups, each with around 40-50 individuals aged 50 and older.
The study included those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, individuals who showed early brain changes without symptoms, and healthy controls.
Across all groups, those with Alzheimer’s and those with early, asymptomatic signs of the disease had noticeably higher levels of PHGDH compared to healthy participants. Moreover, PHGDH levels rose as the disease progressed.
This pattern held true even in Alzheimer’s mouse models, where higher PHGDH expression was linked to poorer cognitive performance. In essence, the more advanced the disease, the higher the PHGDH levels in the brain.
These findings have implications for the use of serine supplements. Because PHGDH plays a crucial role in serine production, the researchers suggest caution with serine supplements for Alzheimer’s patients.
Some studies have proposed that Alzheimer’s involves a reduction in PHGDH activity, leading to a need for extra serine.
However, this new data points in the opposite direction, showing that Alzheimer’s may actually increase PHGDH levels, which could already elevate serine production in the brain.
Clinical trials are currently exploring serine as a potential treatment for cognitive decline, but the researchers caution against it until more is understood.
Their findings suggest that increased serine intake may not have the intended benefit and could complicate the biochemical balance in the brain.
This study, led by Sheng Zhong and published in Cell Metabolism, adds to a growing body of research on Alzheimer’s. It highlights the need for early detection and provides a possible blood marker for Alzheimer’s risk, helping scientists develop better strategies to monitor and understand this complex disease.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and epilepsy drug may help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
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