New study reveals how neurons die in Alzheimer’s disease

Breakthrough research illustrates how neurons initiate a programmed form of cell death – and how neuron death can be prevented.

A research team has finally discovered how neurons die in Alzheimer’s disease – a subject that has been the subject of much scientific discussion over the last few decades.

Now a significant research paper published in Science details how neurons initiate a programmed form of cell death – known as necroptosis – when they are exposed to amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the hallmark misfolded proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s. Excitingly, the research team was able to prevent the death of neurons, rescuing them in the process – a discovery that opens new pathways for potential future treatments.

My take on this: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia, accounting for 60 to 70% of dementia diagnoses. Each year, between six and seven million patients are diagnosed with AD, and as a debilitating disease that often comes with a major emotional and psychological burden for both patients and their families, it represents a growing societal challenge and has been classified as public health priority by the World Health Organisation. Even though the past few years have seen some developments in treatments that slow down disease progression, there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s, as the underlying cause of the disease is still not fully understood.

The new research, coordinated by a research team led by Professor Bart De Strooper (VIB-KU Leuven and the UK Dementia Research Institute) and Dr Sriram Balusu (VIB-KU Leuven), lifts part of the veil over the biological mechanisms underpinning this debilitating disease.

Professor Bart De Strooper, who is Group Leader at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research and the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, said: “Our study sheds light on the previously murky waters of Alzheimer’s disease, revealing a potential key player in neuronal loss – an RNA gene called MEG3, and the process of necroptosis. These findings are an important step forward in furthering our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying this complex and often misunderstood disease.”

Explore the groundbreaking research uncovering the mysteries of neuron death and its prevention HERE.

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