Many older people have amyloid plaques in their brains but never progress to developing Alzheimer’s disease. It seems that amyloid accumulation on its own is not enough to cause dementia. So what is a trigger that starts the disease progression?
The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein in the brain are the main two features of Alzheimer’s disease. But why do they start to accumulate and to harm our brain are still the questions to answer.
We know that having APOE ε4 gene increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 2-3 times. However, it doesn’t mean that people with the gene will develop this type of dementia. It all depends on various factors. One of them is the presence of depression.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by buildup of two proteins, amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles, which destroy nearby brain cells. A recent study proposes a new therapy that uses the immune system to slow down the disease. Namely, this therapy directs the immune cells with the help of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) to swallow these […]
A recent study proposes a model, mapping whole-brain gene activities and their changes during healthy aging and in case of Alzheimer’s disease. To develop the model, researchers used a wide range of information, starting from gene activity on the micro level and ending by chances in brain characteristics on the macro level, such as formation […]
According to a new study, eating a Mediterranean diet may protect your brain from abnormal protein (amyloid and tau) build up and shrinkage that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and the tau protein in specific brain regions. A recent international study focused on the accumulation and spread of the tau protein. The study found that spread of tau in the brain has at least 4 clear patterns. Depending on the spread pattern, people […]
Gum disease (or periodontal disease) begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end, if left untreated, with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth and with destruction of the bone that supports your teeth. It is hard to believe that gum disease is quite common in older people […]
Genetische variatie kan de sleutel zijn bij hersenziektes
Volgens een recente studie, kan één genetische variatie verantwoordelijk zijn voor cognitieve achteruitgang. Dit onafhankelijk van de aanwezige bèta-amyloïd en tau-eiwitafzettingen in de hersenen, de twee belangrijke kenmerken van de ziekte van Alzheimer.