A recent study published in Molecular Psychiatry has identified two primary hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease – tau protein and beta-amyloid – and their distinct effects on brain circuits, particularly those involved in memory and emotions. The research team, led by Carles Saura, has developed a novel transgenic mouse model that replicates both pathologies, allowing them to analyze their individual and combined effects.
The study reveals that tau accumulation in the hippocampus primarily contributes to memory deficits, while beta-amyloid buildup in the amygdala leads to emotional disturbances such as anxiety and fear. Furthermore, the presence of both pathologies together exacerbates brain inflammation and dysfunction, amplifying their overall impact on cognitive and emotional health.
This breakthrough challenges traditional therapeutic approaches that focus on targeting only one of these toxic proteins, a single approach that has largely failed to achieve clear clinical benefits. Instead, researchers suggest that a dual-targeted therapeutic strategy may be necessary to effectively combat Alzheimer’s disease.
The study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the disease and represents a significant step toward new investigative pathways for treatment. While further research is needed to confirm its applicability to humans, this discovery puts traditional therapies into question and offers hope for new approaches in Alzheimer’s research.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/could-we-be-fighting-alzheimers-wrong-new-research-suggests-a-different-approach