Scientists at USC have made a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
A team of researchers has found a way to reduce the toxic buildup of a protein called tau in the brain.
This is important because tau buildup is one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases that affect memory and thinking.
Normally, the brain uses a chemical called glutamate to help with memory, learning, and mood. But when there’s too much glutamate, it can become harmful. High glutamate activity causes tau proteins to build up, leading to brain cell damage and death. These changes are what cause memory loss and other problems in Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team, led by Dr. Justin Ichida from USC’s Keck School of Medicine, realized that trying to reduce glutamate directly would be risky. That’s because lowering glutamate can lead to serious side effects like memory problems, trouble moving, or even unconsciousness.
Instead of focusing on glutamate, the scientists looked for another way to stop the tau buildup. They used stem cells to grow small models of the human brain in the lab.
These brain models were made from both healthy people and people with tau-related brain diseases. When they added glutamate to the brain models, they saw harmful tau buildup, especially in the ones from patients.
The same thing happened in mice that had a gene mutation linked to dementia. The extra glutamate caused toxic tau buildup and brain damage.
So the team searched for genes that react to glutamate. They found a gene called KCTD20. When they turned off this gene in the brain models and mice, something amazing happened—tau buildup dropped, and the brain cells stayed healthy.
They discovered that blocking KCTD20 turned on a natural cleaning system in the brain. This system uses lysosomes, which are like tiny trash collectors inside cells. The lysosomes wrapped around the harmful tau proteins and cleared them out. This helped protect the brain from damage.
This discovery is important because it shows a new and safer way to fight Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Rather than changing glutamate levels and risking dangerous side effects, doctors might one day use treatments that help the brain clean itself.
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Jesse Lai, said the research shows that helping the brain get rid of tau could be a powerful way to treat these diseases. Another team member, Dr. Joshua Berlind, added that this approach could lead to better and more targeted treatments for people with Alzheimer’s.
The study is still in early stages, but it brings hope. If future research can turn these findings into real treatments, we may one day be able to slow or even stop Alzheimer’s disease. That would be life-changing for millions of people and their families.
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.
This study was published in the journal Neuron.
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