Alzheimer’s Research News

Medical News Today posted an article on January 21, 2019 regarding the findings of an Alzheimer’s research study from the Journal of Neuroscience.  This study and its findings are significant to the advancement of a cure of Alzheimer’s disease.  The article estimates 5.5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease.  Alzheimer’s disease is a disease of the brain that damages one’s memory, thinking and ability to complete activities of daily living.  Alzheimer’s disease can affect one’s language, reasoning, conscious thought, personality and behavior changes, overall cognitive difficulties and more.  Symptoms can start appearing when one is in in their 60s and currently it is the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States.
 
The article explains that there is a protein that builds up in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s and then negatively affects functioning in the brain.  The article explores in great detail the specifics of the brain protein and its functioning in regard to Alzheimer’s disease.  They state that this brain protein can then damage cells in the brain.  Brain cells have parts that give and receive signals from other brain cells and these parts are call dendritic spines.  The protein that builds up then damages these dendritic spines.  Damaged brain cells can then cause memory loss and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  This discovery could lead to more research regarding specific medications which could stop these bad proteins in the brain cells from damaging the communication between the brain cells.  Furthermore, research is very important and necessary to discovering the cause(s) of Alzheimer’s and exploring a cure.
 
Here is the full article from Medical News Today:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amp/324230
Information was also sourced from the National Institute on Aging.  Click here:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers/basics