Scientists discover why some brains resist Alzheimer’s
News
– Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience – KNAW
– Some brains appear to fight back against Alzheimer’s by helping immature brain cells survive damage instead of succumbing to it. Understanding this natural resilience could point researchers toward entirely new ways to protect memory and slow dementia.
Some people remain mentally sharp even though their brains contain the biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A new study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience suggests that the answer may lie in how a rare group of brain cells, called immature neurons, responds to damage. The findings offer new insight into cognitive resilience, the brain’s ability to continue functioning despite disease.
Details
One of the biggest unanswered questions in Alzheimer’s research is why the disease affects people so differently. While many develop memory loss and dementia as Alzheimer’s progresses, others show little or no cognitive decline despite having the same underlying brain pathology.
“Around 30 percent of older adults who develop Alzheimer’s disease never experience its symptoms,” says senior author Evgenia Salta. “We really don’t know why. That’s a big mystery, and a very important one.”
Understanding what protects these individuals could eventually point scientists toward new ways to treat or even prevent dementia.
Analysis
“If we understand what protects these brains, it could eventually lead to new therapeutic strategies.”
Can the aging brain replace damaged cells?
One possibility is that resilient brains are better at repairing themselves.
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