A team of researchers from Arizona State University has proposed a new model to explain Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that stress granules are the primary cause behind the condition. These protein and RNA clumps form around cells in stressful conditions due to genetic and environmental risk factors.
According to the study, widespread changes in gene expression occur early on, effectively rewiring biological pathways and increasing cell stress. The researchers believe that stress granules persist and disrupt other processes, including nucleocytoplasmic transport, which is responsible for moving crucial molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
The hypothesis proposes that stress granules disrupt the cell transport system, modifying gene expression, and causing all the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including neuroinflammation and tau protein tangles. While there is no firm proof yet, the researchers argue that it plausibly fits the current evidence.
This new model offers a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease and has significant implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. If proven correct, this could allow scientists to block the disease at its earliest stages, potentially preventing most symptoms. The research also raises key questions about when Alzheimer’s can be detected and when intervention should begin, which have profound implications for society and future medical approaches.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/radical-study-proposes-single-cause-050744388.html