On August 26, a new study published in Nature Medicine reported that through observations of individuals across different ages and stages of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found that while many older adults have amyloid plaques in their brains, not all develop Alzheimer’s. The difference in whether the disease manifests may lie in neuroinflammation driven by microglial cells, and their interaction with amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles, leading to cognitive decline and the onset of Alzheimer’s.
According to the findings, the research team identified excessive activation of microglial cells as the key driver of progression to Alzheimer’s. During the so-called Braak stage, overactive microglia promote the spread of tau tangles—formed alongside amyloid plaques—throughout the brain, ultimately resulting in widespread brain damage and cognitive impairment.
The study was supported by funding from the Alzheimer’s Association. Heather Snyder, Vice President of Medical and Scientific Relations at the Association, stated that through its “Part the Cloud” research grant program, the Association is working to reduce the challenges of Alzheimer’s drug development by supporting early-stage clinical research. Taiwan-based biopharmaceutical company Elixiron was among the recipients of the program’s 2020 awards. More details to follow.
