Researchers have discovered a potential new way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease by measuring the disruption in brain rhythms associated with blood flow. An international team of scientists found that people with Alzheimer’s have altered coherence between neuron and blood vessel activity, which could be used as a simple non-invasive method to detect the progressive neurological disorder.
According to study author and biophysicist professor Aneta Stefanovska, this finding may open up new avenues for treating the disease. The researchers measured brain function using a range of instruments including electrical and optical probes attached to participants’ scalps, an electrocardiogram, and a belt around each subject’s chest recording breathing patterns.
The study involved 39 subjects, with 19 having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The team found that the respiratory frequency at rest was significantly higher in those with Alzheimer’s compared to the control group. This could be leading to reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, which may contribute to the buildup of harmful amyloid beta protein deposits.
Amyloid beta forms plaques between neurons, disrupting communication and contributing to Alzheimer’s development. The researchers suspect that altered blood flow and neuron activity may be key factors in reducing clearance of these toxic proteins.
Further research is needed, but the findings have great potential for developing practical applications in both diagnosis and treatment. The method has been shown to be simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive, with possibilities being explored for creating a spinout company to proceed with it.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/alzheimers-disease-blood-flow-neurons-neurovascular-unit-2025304