Necroptosis: A New Target for Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment?

Alzheimer’s disease has affected millions and continues to baffle scientists. Some of the features of Alzheimer’s include memory loss and the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, specifically amyloid and tau. However, understanding how these elements are interconnected has remained a mystery. Alzheimer research remains an important field of investigation.

Link Between Alzheimer and Necroptosis

In a study published in the journal Science, researchers from the UK’s Dementia Research Institute and KU Leuven in Belgium have unveiled a link between Alzheimer’s disease and a process known as “necroptosis.” Necroptosis is a natural mechanism in our bodies for eliminating unwanted cells. Alzheimer’s disease primarily affects brain cells called neurons, leading to the debilitating symptoms, including memory loss. The accumulation of abnormal proteins, amyloid and tau, has been a central focus in Alzheimer’s research, yet understanding how these elements trigger the disease has remained elusive.

MEG3 Induces Necroptosis

According to the recent research, the abnormal amyloid protein build-up in the synapses of neurons, resulting in brain inflammation. This inflammatory response alters the internal chemistry of neurons, causing the formation of tau networks. This tends to induce neurons to start producing a molecule called MEG3, which sets in motion the process of necroptosis.

What Blocking MEG3 Does to the Brain

The researchers found that blocking the MEG3 molecule prevented brain cell death. This revelation opens up a new avenue for potential drug development to treat Alzheimer’s disease. However, it’s essential to recognize that further research is required to harness this discovery fully, and it may take several years to develop effective drugs based on these findings.

Connecting abnormal proteins, brain inflammation, and necroptosis in Alzheimer’s disease offers newfound hope in the quest for effective treatments. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize our approach to Alzheimer’s care. Continued research and development will be vital in turning this exciting revelation into therapies for those affected by Alzheimer’s.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66816268

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp9556

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37708272/