Most research on Alzheimer’s disease has focused on the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain.
But a new study from Yale School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University is shifting attention to another key player in Alzheimer’s—tau proteins. When these proteins change in harmful ways, they can damage brain cells and speed up the disease.
One of the major changes in tau is something called phosphorylation. When tau proteins become overly phosphorylated, they form tangles that disrupt brain function. These tangles stop brain cells from working properly and eventually lead to their death. The new study looked at how to stop these changes from happening early in the disease.
The researchers focused on an enzyme in the brain known as GCPll. This enzyme is involved in inflammation and can interfere with the brain’s natural protective systems. Normally, a brain receptor called mGluR3 helps protect brain cells and supports thinking and memory. But GCPll weakens the effects of mGluR3, making brain cells more vulnerable.
Here’s the exciting part: The team tested a GCPll inhibitor called 2-MPPA, a compound developed by the Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery program. When given to older monkeys that already had tau-related brain problems, 2-MPPA was able to reduce tau phosphorylation. This means fewer harmful tangles formed in their brains.
This result offers hope that stopping or slowing down these damaging changes could help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s. But the research is not finished yet. The next step is to create a version of this drug that is safe for humans and can be taken by mouth.
If successful, this new approach could become a powerful treatment option for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It targets one of the root causes of brain damage in the disease, potentially preventing memory loss before it starts.
The research team is now working to develop a safe, effective GCPll inhibitor for human use. Their work opens a promising new door in the search for Alzheimer’s treatments.
If you’re interested in Alzheimer’s research, you may also want to read about recent studies suggesting the disease may be caused by an autoimmune reaction, not just brain changes. Other research highlights the protective role of certain foods and antioxidants in lowering Alzheimer’s risk.
This study was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
