- In Alzheimer’s disease, a buildup of tau protein leads to the death of brain tissue.
- New research has linked this tau buildup to the accumulation of cholesteryl esters — a form of lipid that is associated with inflammation.
- The findings suggest that clearing out these cholesteryl esters may reduce the brain damage and behavioral changes seen in people with Alzheimer’s, at least in mice so far.
- However, the researchers emphasize that the compound used in their study is unsuitable for use in people, so they are looking for other therapies that have the same clearing effect.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 6 million people in the United States. Alzheimer’s and other dementias impact close to
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, confusion, and personality changes, are thought to be largely due to an abnormal buildup of two proteins in the brain —
Now, a study in mice from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that tau deposits in the brain are linked to the buildup of a form of cholesterol. When the mice were treated to reduce these cholesteryl esters, their brain damage and behavioral changes also reduced.
The research is published in the journal Neuron.
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a protein in the brain. It helps regulate the transport of cholesterol and other types of fat in the blood. There are
- APOE ε2 may provide some protection against Alzheimer’s. Roughly 5% to 10% of people have this…
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