Scientists Identify , What Drives Alzheimer's , Progress in the Brain.
'The Independent' reports that scientists have
identified what drives the progression
of Alzheimer’s within the brain.
The discovery reportedly offers hope
that new treatments could be developed
that can fight the disease.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge
found that toxic clumps of protein accumulate
in different areas of the brain simultaneously.
These clusters, referred to as aggregates,
reportedly cause cells to die
and the brain to shrink.
According to 'The Independent,' the result
is memory loss, personality changes
and difficulty performing daily functions.
The team found that the rate of progression
is determined by the replication
of aggregates in the brain.
According to the research, the speed at which aggregates can kill the brain’s cells determines the overall speed of the disease's progression.
Neurons are surprisingly good
at stopping aggregates from forming,
but we need to find ways to make
them even better if we’re going
to develop an effective treatment, Professor Sir David Klenerman, study co-author,
U.K. Dementia Research Institute
at the University of Cambridge, via 'The Independent'.
The researchers say the discovery could lead
to new treatments for the disease which affects
an estimated 44 million people worldwide.
The research was published
in the journal 'Science Advances.'