Alzheimer’s disease researchers have proposed a new model that suggests stress granules, protein and RNA clumps, are the primary culprit behind the complex condition. According to a study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, these clumps form around cells under stressful conditions and contribute to the wholesale changes in gene expression seen in Alzheimer’s.
The researchers found that stress granules persist in people with Alzheimer’s, disrupting cell communication and leading to massive disruptions in gene expression. This disruption is believed to be the underlying cause of all Alzheimer’s symptoms, including neuroinflammation and tau protein tangles.
The study suggests that stress granules can disrupt the cell transport system, modifying gene expression and causing the disease. This breakthrough offers a plausible framework for comprehensively understanding the mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s and could pave the way for innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
By targeting stress granules, scientists may be able to block the disease at its earliest stages, potentially preventing most symptoms from occurring in the first place. The study also highlights the importance of identifying when Alzheimer’s truly begins, as this will have profound implications for society and future medical approaches.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/radical-study-proposes-a-single-cause-to-explain-alzheimers-disease