Alzheimer’s disease is the most common brain condition in older adults worldwide and a leading cause of dementia. Despite decades of research, scientists are still uncertain about the exact causes of Alzheimer’s, and no effective treatment has been discovered so far.
Two main theories are debated among researchers. The first theory points to the buildup of a protein called amyloid-beta in the brain as the main cause.
The second, more recent theory suggests that problems with mitochondria—the parts of cells that produce energy—may be responsible. Mitochondria act like power plants for cells, and their dysfunction could have serious effects on brain health.
A recent study from Yale-NUS College provides strong support for the mitochondrial theory. Researchers found that problems in cell metabolism, including issues with mitochondria, occur well before amyloid-beta protein buildup can even be detected.
This finding shifts the focus toward metabolic defects as an early and primary cause of Alzheimer’s.
To investigate this, the team used a tiny worm called Caenorhabditis elegans in their research. These worms are often used in scientific studies because their cells share many similarities with human cells at the molecular level.
The worms showed clear signs of metabolic issues long before any protein buildup appeared, suggesting that energy production problems might trigger the disease.
A breakthrough came when the researchers treated these worms with a drug called metformin, commonly used for diabetes. Metformin seemed to repair the metabolic defects, improving the worms’ health and even extending their lifespan.
This suggests that targeting metabolism, particularly mitochondria, might be a promising approach to preventing or managing Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers propose a shift in how age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s are approached. Instead of waiting for symptoms, such as memory loss, to appear, they recommend focusing on the underlying aging process.
Metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunctions are not unique to Alzheimer’s; they are common features of aging itself. By addressing these issues early, it might be possible to prevent multiple age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
This study highlights the need to look at Alzheimer’s as a condition deeply connected to the aging process. Rather than treating individual diseases after symptoms develop, targeting the basic mechanisms of aging, such as mitochondrial health, could be more effective and simpler.
The research, led by Jan Gruber and published in the journal eLife, offers hope for a fresh approach to Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases.
It opens the door to the idea that improving how cells generate energy could play a critical role in maintaining brain health and delaying or even preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and extra-virgin olive oil could boost brain function.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
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