For over 30 years, scientists have been searching for ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease by removing the sticky protein clusters called amyloid beta plaques that build up in the brain. A new study from Northwestern Medicine offers a promising approach: boosting the brain’s own immune cells to clear these plaques more effectively.
The previous focus was on developing vaccines and FDA-approved antibody therapies, but these have been met with limited success due to side effects and high costs. However, the latest research suggests that activating the brain’s natural defenses could be the key to treating Alzheimer’s.
Using a cutting-edge technique called spatial transcriptomics, scientists analyzed donated brain tissue from patients who had received amyloid-beta immunization and compared it to those who had not. The results showed that when these treatments work, the brain’s immune cells (microglia) don’t just clear plaques – they also help restore a healthier brain environment.
The study found that some microglia are more effective at removing plaques than others, and certain genes play a crucial role in determining which ones respond well to treatment. The researchers also identified specific mechanisms in the brain’s immune cells that help limit the spread of amyloid pathology.
If this approach can be refined, it could potentially circumvent the need for expensive and often ineffective medications. “We found that brain immune cells play a crucial role in clearing toxic amyloid-beta,” said lead author Lynn van Olst. “This has implications for developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-how-to-flip-the-immune-switch-against-alzheimers-disease