Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have made an exciting discovery about Alzheimer’s disease.
Their new research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggests that brain inflammation—not the well-known amyloid and tau proteins—may be the main cause of common mental and emotional symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s.
These symptoms, called neuropsychiatric symptoms, include irritability, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. They can be very hard to treat and make life more difficult for both patients and their caregivers.
Dr. Cristiano Aguzzoli, the first author of the study, explained that these symptoms have always been a major challenge because their exact cause wasn’t clear—until now.
Earlier in 2023, the same team discovered that too much brain inflammation plays a key role in how Alzheimer’s starts and progresses. Their latest study gives even stronger proof that this inflammation directly causes the mood and behavior problems that often show up in Alzheimer’s patients.
In the study, the researchers looked at 109 older adults. Most of them didn’t show any signs of memory loss or thinking problems, but they did have amyloid and tau buildup in their brains.
Using brain scans and health checkups, the scientists found that inflammation in the brain—measured by something called microglial activation—was linked to symptoms like trouble sleeping, mood swings, and feeling agitated.
One of the most important findings was that people who had quick changes in their mood often had higher levels of brain inflammation. This means inflammation might be triggering these sudden emotional shifts.
These results could change how Alzheimer’s is treated. If future medicines can reduce inflammation in the brain, they might also help control or even prevent these difficult symptoms. This could make life better not only for patients but also for the people who care for them every day.
The senior author of the study, Dr. Tharick Pascoal, said that these discoveries are not just important for Alzheimer’s. Other brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease also show signs of inflammation and emotional symptoms. The research team hopes to work with scientists around the world to explore how inflammation affects these other diseases, too.
This could open the door to better treatments for many kinds of dementia, not just Alzheimer’s. It may also lead to earlier diagnosis and care that focuses on preventing mental and emotional symptoms before they begin.
If you’re interested in brain health, there are other helpful studies to check out. Some research has shown that vitamin D deficiency is linked to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Other studies suggest that cannabis extract might help relieve Alzheimer’s symptoms. There is also research showing that low vitamin B9 levels can raise the risk of dementia, and that foods rich in flavonoids may help people with Parkinson’s live longer.
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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