Researchers Discover Key to Alzheimer’s Disease in Our Brains
Summary: Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases are partially caused by the build-up of garbage due to a breakdown of the cellular housekeeping process known as autophagy. British scientists just discovered what may be the key to stopping this collapse in cellular housekeeping. [Author: Brady Hartman. This article first appeared on the website LongevityFacts. Follow us on Reddit | Google+ ]
Scientists at King’s College London (KCL) discovered new mechanisms of cell death in neurodegenerative disorders, which may be involved in the leading causes of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The novel research was published Wednesday in the journal Current Biology.
If the findings are expanded, the discovery could lead to new treatments for delaying the progression of previously incurable neurodegenerative conditions.
Neurodegenerative disorders are the leading cause of disability among the age and lead to dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and accounts for slightly more than half of all cases. The problem of dementia is about to get a whole lot bigger. About 47 million people worldwide have dementia, according to the Worldwide Health Organization, in 2017, who also projects numbers to nearly triple by 2050.
Neurodegenerative disorders that cause dementia are characterized by the progressive loss of brain function in which patients start to lose control of their memory, speech, balance, and movement.
Many current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases aim to enhance cell clearance, which may worsen rather than improve symptoms, making the need for new treatment strategies an urgent priority.
However, scientists do not know how or why brain cells lose function, particularly in the terminal stage of these neurodegenerative illnesses. Using animal models of a degenerative neurological disorder, the researchers found a similar dysfunctional process happening in the brains of fruit flies and mice, as well as human brain cells, which means that the team’s findings are likely to be replicated in human brains. The researchers found that nerve cells in specific areas of the brain became stalled and are no longer able to remove toxins or dysfunctional brain cells, a natural process known as autophagy.
Alzheimer’s and Autophagy
Autophagy is a housekeeping process in which the brain breaks down and recycles cellular waste. Senior study author Dr. Manolis Fanto, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at KCL said
“Autophagy is important for all degenerative neurological conditions and what is emerging from our study is how the blockage of autophagy kills nerve cells in a new way, not described before.”
When autophagy goes into decline, it results in a build-up of toxins, a phenomenon known as ‘cellular garb-aging,’ a term coined by the widely-quoted geroscientist, Claudio Franceschi. The build-up in junk due to loss of cellular housekeeping is one of the hallmarks of aging, common as we grow older.
When the cellular garbage has built up to unmanageably high levels, the cells become confused and instead of removing waste, they begin to remove perfectly good cellular components. This breakdown in cellular housekeeping leads to a loss of function and ultimately cell death.
Current treatments for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia aim to enhance cell clearance. The researchers at KCL found a new insight into how nerve cells could die from self-digestion and this finding has significant implications for Alzheimer’s treatments that target autophagy. Moreover, the King’s College London researchers were able to disrupt the processes that interfere with cellular housekeeping, a technique which could be used to enhance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Lead study author, Dr. Olga Baron, also from the IoPPN at KCL, said,
“Studies like ours, looking at rare genetic conditions, can be very powerful in finding new mechanisms. We are currently looking into whether we can replicate the same findings for other disorders where autophagy has been shown to malfunction, like Alzheimer’s disease and motor neuron disease.”
Bottom Line
Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases are partially caused by cellular garb-aging, a build-up of debris caused by a breakdown in autophagy, the cellular housekeeping process. While researchers may have just discovered the key to stopping this breakdown in housekeeping, much more work needs to be done before considering human trials.
In the meantime, pharmaceutical companies are hoping they can stop Alzheimer’s with revolutionary treatments and approaches. In fact, more than 100 Alzheimer’s therapies are currently in clinical trials. And in a report late last month, researchers reported on drugs that may prevent Alzheimer’s.
Additional Reading on Alzheimer’s
1st of 3-part series: Scientists propose novel treatments to cure Alzheimer’s.
2nd of 3-part series: Scientists propose precision treatments for Alzheimer’s.
3rd of 3-part series: Report on drugs that may prevent Alzheimer’s.
Article: Researchers test diabetes drugs as potential Alzheimer’s treatment.
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References
Cover photo credit: Naeblys / Getty Images.
King’s College London. “Study reveals new mechanisms of cell death in neurodegenerative disorders.” (Press Release). Via MedicalXpress. November 22, 2017. Link.
Baron, Olga et al. “Stall in Canonical Autophagy-Lysosome Pathways Prompts Nucleophagy-Based Nuclear Breakdown in Neurodegeneration.” Current Biology, Volume 0, Issue 0. Nov 22, 2017. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.10.054. Link.
Disclaimer
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Advice: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for qualified, professional medical advice. The information and opinions provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Experimental therapies carry a much higher risk than FDA-approved ones. Consult a licensed and qualified physician for the diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911, or an equivalent emergency hotline number, for all medical emergencies. As well, consult a licensed, qualified physician before changing your diet, supplement or exercise programs. Photos, Endorsements, & External Links: This article is not intended to endorse organizations, companies, or their products. Links to external websites, mention or depiction of company names or brands, are intended for illustration only and do not constitute endorsements.
Hi Brady, very nice you have interest in AD. I would very much appreciated note from you with your private email address in regard to upcoming work regarding prevention of AD and Rapamycin.
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