Scientists have largely focused on the buildup of beta-amyloid as one of the major drivers of Alzheimer’s disease, but more and more research is pointing to inflammation as another big factor.
A new study focused on brain tissue analysis concluded that inflammation may actually trigger amyloid accumulation, playing a big role in the progression of neurological degeneration and associated brain diseases.
The study, conducted by an international research team led by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn, was recently published in the journal Nature.
For this study, the researchers examined tissue samples from the brains of deceased frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, cultured brain cells and mice that exhibited hallmarks of Alzheimer’s and FTD.
Tau proteins usually stabilize a neuron’s skeleton, but in degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, the proteins are chemically altered and instead begin sticking together. This alteration of the tau proteins, and its subsequent effect on the overall stability of the brain cells, causes cell death and leads to brain disorders.
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