A recent study by scientists from the US and Germany suggests that the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from damage, may be the initial trigger for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers linked genetic risk factors to this barrier, revealing a potential new target for treatment.
Currently, most research on Alzheimer’s has focused on damaged neurons inside the brain. However, a team of neuroscientists discovered that variations in DNA sequences often occur outside of genes that code for proteins, but rather in sections near them. These flanking sequences can fine-tune gene expression and control cell activity.
The scientists developed a new genetic analysis technology called MultiVINE-seq to study the blood-brain barrier’s role in Alzheimer’s. They analyzed 30 postmortem brain tissue samples from people with and without neurological disease, finding that many genetic variants linked to brain conditions were located in cells patrolling the brain’s borders.
Endothelial cells, which help regulate access to the brain, and immune system T cells were found to be involved. The study suggests that inflammatory immune cells could be triggering or accelerating Alzheimer’s.
This new research brings attention to the often-overlooked blood-brain barrier and its role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. It provides another step towards understanding how these complex conditions work, potentially leading to more accessible treatment options and lifestyle interventions.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/alzheimers-may-start-at-the-brains-borders-scientists-discover