Scientists from the City University of New York have made a groundbreaking discovery about Alzheimer’s disease, identifying a crucial cellular mechanism driving its progression. Their research provides a promising target for new treatments that could slow or reverse the disease.
The study focused on microglia, the brain’s primary immune cells, which play a dual role in Alzheimer’s pathology – both protecting and harming brain health. Microglia produce toxic lipids when activated by stress, damaging neurons and contributing to neurodegeneration.
By blocking the stress response pathway, researchers were able to reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in preclinical models. The study also revealed an accumulation of “dark microglia” in postmortem brain tissues from Alzheimer’s patients, highlighting a critical link between cellular stress and neurotoxic effects.
This breakthrough offers new hope for treatment and prevention strategies. Targeting specific microglial populations or their stress-induced mechanisms could lead to significant slowing or even reversal of Alzheimer’s disease progression, benefiting millions of patients and their families.
Source: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/scientists-make-key-alzheimers-breakthrough-identifying-cellular-stress-related-mechanism-driving-the-disease