Alzheimer’s Cells’ Clocks Hijacked: New Treatments Possible
- this ScienceAlert article discusses a new study revealing a strong link between Alzheimer's disease and our body's natural 24-hour cycle, the circadian rhythm.
- * Half of the 82 genes associated with Alzheimer's risk are regulated by the circadian rhythm.
- The research opens up potential avenues for new therapeutic treatments aimed at manipulating these genes and preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease by targeting the circadian rhythm.
Summary of the ScienceAlert Article: Alzheimer’s, Circadian Rhythms, and gene Expression
this ScienceAlert article discusses a new study revealing a strong link between Alzheimer’s disease and our body’s natural 24-hour cycle, the circadian rhythm.
Key Findings:
* Half of the 82 genes associated with Alzheimer’s risk are regulated by the circadian rhythm. This suggests a significant influence of our internal clock on the disease’s development.
* The study focused on astrocytes and microglia – brain cells that support neurons and clear waste,respectively – in both mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms and healthy mice. Results were confirmed in human tissue.
* Disrupted circadian rhythms may interfere with the brain’s ability to clear toxic waste,specifically amyloid-beta protein plaques,a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
* The relationship between disrupted rhythms and plaque formation is still being investigated. it’s unclear whether the plaques disrupt the rhythm or a disrupted rhythm leads to plaque formation.
implications:
The research opens up potential avenues for new therapeutic treatments aimed at manipulating these genes and preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by targeting the circadian rhythm.
In essence, the study highlights the importance of a healthy sleep-wake cycle and its potential impact on brain health and Alzheimer’s risk.