Researchers discover a previously known cause of Alzheimer's in the brain's white matter

Fareeha Arshad

Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), the University of Washington, and the Allen Institute for Brain Science have made a significant discovery regarding the development of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. They have identified a previously unknown chemical pathway that sheds light on how these diseases initiate and progress in the brain.

The study found that immune cells called microglia, which play a crucial role in the brain's immune response, are being destroyed in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. This discovery highlights a previously overlooked aspect of the diseases.

The chain of events leading to damage in the brain's white matter, which connects different brain regions, begins with myelin. Myelin acts as a protective sheath for neurons, facilitating efficient communication. Over time, myelin can deteriorate due to factors like ageing and hypertension. In response, microglia are tasked with clearing the brain of the damaged myelin.

However, the researchers found that the microglia themselves are being destroyed in the process. This destruction appears to result from excess iron within the white matter they are trying to clear. In essence, these immune cells are sacrificing themselves to protect the brain.

The death of microglia and the subsequent degeneration of white matter seem to contribute to the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. While further research is needed to confirm this link, this discovery opens up new avenues for potential treatments and drug development.

Understanding the degeneration of microglia may lead to the development of therapies aimed at slowing or halting the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's and related dementia diseases.

This breakthrough is expected to generate excitement in the pharmaceutical industry, driving efforts to create therapeutically significant compounds to target this newly identified aspect of the diseases. Hopefully, these findings will pave the way for innovative treatments to improve the lives of individuals affected by Alzheimer's and related dementias.


Read full story in "NewsBreak" App
# Alzheimer

This is original content from NewsBreak’s Creator Program. Join today to publish and share your own content.

Comments / 2

Published by

I am a scientist by profession and a historian by passion. I mostly write about history and science.

Texas State
56K followers

More from Fareeha Arshad

Scientists discover the 'dark earth' recipe in the depths of the Amazon

New research from the US and Brazil suggests that ancient Amazonian communities intentionally enriched the soil in the rainforest, locking up carbon in a process that could inspire modern agricultural practices and climate change mitigation efforts. The researchers, working with Indigenous communities in the Amazon since the early 2000s, found evidence of intentionally created "dark earth" called terra preta around archaeological sites in the Kuikuro Indigenous Territory in the Upper Xingu River basin. The Kuikuro people still use these ancient soil-enrichment techniques in their modern villages.

Read full story
1 comments

Researchers discover a first-of-its-kind plant fungus that infects humans

Silver leaf disease, caused by the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum, typically affects plants like pears, roses, and rhododendrons, threatening their leaves and branches. However, in a rare and unprecedented case, a 61-year-old Indian mycologist is believed to have contracted silver leaf disease in his throat, marking an extraordinary leap of a pathogen across different kingdoms.

Read full story
2 comments

Study: Wild elephants were previously domesticated, but not by humans

Evolutionary changes associated with domestication, such as shorter snouts, floppy ears, expressive faces, less body hair, and prolonged infancy, are expected in many domesticated animals. A recent study suggests that elephants may have undergone a similar process of self-domestication. The concept of self-domestication involves animals, including humans, evolving traits that make them more suitable for coexisting with humans, such as docility and sociability.

Read full story
1 comments

Researchers discover genetic origin of autism spectrum disorder by studying artificial brain

A groundbreaking scientific technique known as CHOOSE (CRISPR–human organoids–single-cell RNA sequencing) is unravelling the genetic origins of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using brain organoids—mini artificial brains grown in the lab. Developed by researchers from the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Austria, the method combines complex genetics and quantitative bioinformatics to investigate mutations in high-risk autism genes and their impact on specific cell changes in the fetal brain.

Read full story
1 comments

Researchers discover new trigger for Parkinson's that begins much earlier than we previously assumed

A recent study by researchers from the US and Canada suggests that Parkinson's disease may be triggered earlier than previously believed. The team analysed neurons from Parkinson's patients and identified a previously unknown factor contributing to the disease's symptoms. The newly discovered trigger is a malfunction in the synapses, the connections between neurons responsible for managing dopamine production. This malfunction leads to a toxic accumulation of dopamine, causing damage to dopaminergic neurons—a characteristic feature of Parkinson's disease.

Read full story
6 comments

Researchers confirm that there are more mysterious fairy circles than we previously assumed

A global assessment has revealed that mysterious fairy circles, bare patches of ground in deserts, are more widespread than previously thought, with more than 250 sites identified across three continents and 15 countries. The circles, found in locations such as Namibia, Australia, Sahel, Madagascar, and Middle-West Asia, are circular, barren pavements in low grassy vegetation, and their origins have long puzzled scientists.

Read full story
18 comments

Researchers confirm that we could have been wrong about syphilis's origin all along

A new study challenges the long-held belief that Christopher Columbus and his Spanish expedition introduced syphilis to Europe from the Americas in the late 15th century. Past research on medieval bones suggested the presence of the syphilis-causing bacterium Treponema pallidum or related strains in Europe before Columbus's return in 1493. The latest study, led by a team of paleomicrobiologists, adds weight to this counter-hypothesis by identifying signs of a T. pallidum infection in a 7th or 8th-century French thigh bone.

Read full story
362 comments

Curious Canine: The new kind of fox-dog hybrid discovered in Brazil

In Brazil, a stray canine discovered in 2021 has been identified as a rare hybrid between a South American pampas fox and a domestic dog, referred to as a "dogxim." The animal's appearance and behaviour puzzled scientists from the beginning. While it barked like a dog and displayed dog-like eyes and dark fur, its pointed ears and long snout suggested a different origin. Interestingly, the hybrid refused dog food, opting for small rats instead.

Read full story
3 comments

A bend in universe: Researchers may have discovered the cosmic string proof

A recent analysis of a peculiar pair of galaxies located billions of light-years away suggests the possibility of a cosmic string—a hypothetical feature in the fabric of the Universe. Initially considered distinct, the two galaxies may be duplicated images caused by gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where space-time bends around foreground mass, acting like a lens.

Read full story
35 comments

Researchers found a new link between contraceptive pills and depression, in a new discovery

A recent observational study, based on data from the United Kingdom Biobank, has found an association between the use of combined oral contraceptives and an increased risk of depression shortly after initiation.

Read full story
39 comments

Illuminating the Cosmos with Tripled Light - A Breakthrough Discovery in the Hubble Constant Quest

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a distant supernova named SN H0pe, which could play a key role in determining the expansion rate of the Universe. This Type Ia supernova is the second-most distant ever observed, found in a galaxy whose light has travelled for just over 10 billion years to reach us. What makes SN H0pe particularly exciting is how its light is triplicated by gravity, causing a time delay between images of the supernova. This time delay could help scientists measure the Hubble Constant, which represents the rate at which the Universe is expanding.

Read full story

Researchers confirm the weakening of the Gulf Stream

A new study by researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Miami provides "conclusive, unambiguous observational evidence" of the Gulf Stream weakening over the past 40 years. The Gulf Stream, a primary ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico up the east coast of the United States and across the Atlantic, influences climate, temperatures, precipitation, sea level, hurricane activity, and more. The researchers focused on data from the Florida Straits, a region showcasing the effects of the Gulf Stream.

Read full story
22 comments

Study: Echidnas Break Their Silence in a Symphony of Breeding Season Vocalizations

Researchers from Curtin University in Australia have recorded vocalisations of wild short-beaked echidnas during the breeding season, proving that these spiky creatures can vocalise. Echidnas are egg-laying mammals in Australia, known for their unique features and behaviours. The recorded sounds included cooing, grunting, wheezing, and exhalation, challenging the previous belief that auditory communication was absent in echidnas, with only recognised "sniffing" noises.

Read full story
1 comments

Sizzling soil: Researchers study major ecological warning sign that we've been ignoring all along

A new study highlights the increasing threat of extreme soil heat across the globe, shedding light on a problem that has been underestimated in climate change studies. While rising air and water temperatures have been the primary focus, the study emphasises the significance of extreme soil heat and its potential consequences for various ecosystems and human activities.

Read full story
3 comments

Science Behind Cats' Distinctive Rumble Unveils 'Purring Pads' in Vocal Cords

Researchers have unravelled the mystery behind the distinctive low-pitched purr of cats, revealing that it involves "purring pads" in the vocal cords. The international team, led by scientists from the University of Vienna, challenges the conventional belief that active muscle contractions cause purring. Instead, they propose that purring is a passive aerodynamic behaviour triggered by an initiating brain signal. The "purring pads," composed of collagen and elastin fibres in the vocal cord's connective tissues, increase density and slow down vibrations, producing the characteristic rumble.

Read full story
1 comments

The Moon's Inner Core Revealed as Solid, Not Molten, in Groundbreaking Research

Recent research has concluded that the moon's inner core is not molten but rather a solid sphere with a density similar to that of iron. Led by astronomers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the study utilised seismic data collected by Apollo missions and lunar laser ranging experiments, coupled with various space mission data. The team modelled the moon's internal composition, focusing on gravitational deformation, distance variation from Earth, and density.

Read full story
5 comments

Otterly Surprising: Researchers Study the Unusual Diet of Bigg's Orcas

In 2020, a deceased orca found in Russian waters provided valuable insights into the dietary habits of Bigg's orcas, a subgroup with distinct genomes and feeding preferences. The orca, measuring 6.3 meters in length, was discovered with a stomach filled with an unusual meal – six whole sea otters and a seventh lodged in her throat. This marks the first direct evidence of orca predation on sea otters in the Commander Islands off the eastern coast of Russia.

Read full story

Fear in the Savannah: The Startling Impact of Human Presence on Africa's Wildlife

In the vast African savannah, where apex predators like lions reign, it turns out that the mere presence of humans induces greater fear in wildlife. Researchers from Western University conducted experiments in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, home to the largest remaining lion population globally, to gauge animal responses to various sounds.

Read full story
1 comments

Researchers discover 21,500 years old human footprints in North America

Footprints in the White Sands desert of New Mexico were made by human feet around 21,500 years ago, according to more rigorous dating by a team of scientists, including some involved in the initial discovery. The 2021 findings dated the footprints to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago and were initially met with scepticism due to the aquatic nature of the plant used for radiocarbon dating.

Read full story
50 comments

Predicting the Unpredictable: Assembly Theory's Vision into the Emergence of Life Beyond Earth

An international team of scientists, led by researchers from Arizona State University and the University of Glasgow, have proposed a new framework called 'Assembly Theory' to bridge the gap between physics and evolution. The researchers aim to unify inert and living matter by considering objects not only in their current state but also through the dimension of time, accounting for their formation and potential to change. Building on their previous work on a molecular complexity index, the team developed a mathematical framework for defining the amount of selection required to produce complex objects, such as proteins or eyes, from molecular building blocks.

Read full story

Comments / 0

Community Policy