"We have identified a new molecular mechanism which directly contributes to this synapse loss -- a discovery we hope could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments."
The team studied a protein in the brain called neural cell adhesion molecule 2, or NCAM2 -- one of a family of molecules that physically connects the membranes of synapses and help stabilise these long lasting synaptic contacts between neurons.
The research is published in the journal Nature Communications .
Using post-mortem brain tissue from people with and without the condition, they discovered that synaptic NCAM2 levels in the part of the brain known as the hippocampus were low in those with Alzheimer's disease.
They also showed in mice studies and in the laboratory that NCAM2 was broken down by another protein called beta-amyloid, which is the main component of the plaques that build up in the brains of people with the disease.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 02 2015, @05:09PM
with all the medication prices going through the roof, treatments are all good and wonderful, but wouldn't researching the CAUSE of this alzheimer thingy be more useful albeit less profitable?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 02 2015, @05:12PM
http://www.sens.org/research/introduction-to-sens-research/extracellular-junk [sens.org]
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Wednesday December 02 2015, @08:32PM
wouldn't researching the CAUSE of this alzheimer thingy be more useful albeit less profitable?
we know the cause and the cause is genetic. the only permanent solution is to have a screening/editing process for embryo implantation. tell me when that starts flying over with the general public and we can continue talking about it.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 02 2015, @05:41PM
Get off mah ... that thing, the green stuff.