In 1906, Alois Alzheimera psychiatrist and neuroanatomist, reported a disease process severe and particular of the cerebral cortex in a 50-year-old woman. She suffered from memory loss, delusions, hallucinations, aggression and confusion. All of these symptoms worsened until his untimely death five years later. During the autopsy, Alzheimer noticed distinctive plates on his brain. Clumps of beta-amyloid protein have been thought to cause this disease later called Alzheimer’s.
However, this theory has two major problems. First, it does not explain why many people present plates in their brains in the absence of any neurological symptoms. Second, clinical trials of drugs to reduce those plaques could not cure the attacks of dementia.
Some studies have shown that reduced levels of beta-amyloid soluble still resulted in states of severe dementia.
The amount of beta-amyloid 42 is more important than the accumulation of plaques
In a recent study, researchers tried to find out the determinant in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. They wanted to know whether the occurrence of the disease depends on the amount of plaques in the brain or on the amount of beta-amyloid 42one of the biomarkers of the disease.
After further study, they discovered that the beta-amyloid depletion 42 is more harmful than the amount of plaques. These results are consistent with similar studies by other researchers. Furthermore, they highlighted the important functions of amyloid beta 42 in the maintenance of memory and cognition.
Low levels of beta-amyloid 42 can cause Alzheimer’s
People with higher levels of beta-amyloid remained cognitively normal, regardless of the amount of plaque in their brains. It should also be mentioned that in some rare hereditary forms of the disease, victims may develop dementia with low levels of amyloid-beta 42 and no detectable plaque.
This means that the plates are not the only cause of their dementia. While low levels of beta-amyloid 42 might be. This theory pushes the scientists to reconsider their conception of the Alzheimer’s disease.
SOURCE : TECHEXPLORIST