New findings are revealing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain, offering potential insights for treatments for the nearly 7 million Americans affected by the condition. A study published in Nature Neuroscience analyzed 3.4 million cells from 84 cadaver brains, showing two specific phases where Alzheimer’s impacts brain cells and identifying key neurons to target.
Dr. Richard J. Hodes, director of the NIH National Institute on Aging, notes that detecting early changes in the brain could revolutionize our understanding of Alzheimer’s and guide the development of new treatments. The research highlights the following key discoveries:
1. Slow Early Changes in Brain Cells: Alzheimer’s progresses through an initial slow phase followed by a more rapid deterioration of brain cells.
2. Overactive Immune System: Neuron changes can lead to an overactive immune response, resulting in the death of specific inhibitory neurons.
3. Loss of Specific Neurons: Inhibitory neurons linked to memory and thinking are the first to die off during the initial phase of Alzheimer’s.
4. Changes in Brain’s Inhibitory Signals: The loss of inhibitory neurons disrupts the balance of inhibitory and excitatory brain signals, contributing to brain disorders.
5. Early Intervention: Preventing the loss of inhibitory neurons early on could have a significant impact on the progression of Alzheimer’s.
6. Deterioration in the Middle Temporal Gyrus: Loss of neurons in this region impacts visual perception, language, and memory processing, providing insight into Alzheimer’s symptoms.
7. What’s Next?: This new information could lead to a shift in how Alzheimer’s is treated, with a focus on early intervention.