Notably, research from Bonn, Germany and Rome, Italy has led to new insights into Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, this review summarizes it. We know from many other studies that Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that interferes with the normal function of the brain, particularly the memory. It is important to realize that according to the CDC in 2014 about 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease. Typically the symptoms occur after the age of 60.
Research findings about Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Caterina Scuderi is an Assistant Professor of pharmacology and toxicology from the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. She and her team have done research regarding the causation of Alzheimer’s disease. With this in mind, according to her studies there are three telltale markers that come together in an Alzheimer’s patient.
- Beta‐amyloid peptides are deposited around the nerve cells (neurons)
- There is a build-up of proteins (tau protein) inside the neurons. They are called neurofibrillary tangles, which are insoluble fibers.
- Neuroinflammation is the new big factor that is also involved in the causation of Alzheimer’s disease. This is closely related to immunological mechanisms.
Neuroinflammation is an important component of Alzheimer’s disease
Indeed, Dr. Michael Heneka and his research team from the University of Bonn, Germany started investigating the process of neuroinflammation in 2015. With this in mind, this publication from 2018 is summarizing his work. Briefly, these authors stated that systemic inflammation, which is common in obese people or diabetics, leads to the development of inflammation in the microglia and astroglia of the brain. In short, the end result is the degenerative process in the brain tissue of Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Heneka stated that there is evidence of “early and substantial involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease.” Significantly, Dr. Caterina Scuderi concentrated on this aspect of early Alzheimer’s disease.
The role of glia in the development of Alzheimer’s disease
Glia cells surround nerve cells in the central nervous system. They have a nutritional role, but they also fulfill an immune cell function. When the degenerative process starts in older people, a small number of beta-amyloid peptides precipitate around the nerve cells. The glia cells recognize this as a problem and they attempt to remove it; but in the process they release inflammatory kinins. Neuroinflammation sets in and further cell death takes place. In other words, the initial attempt to eradicate the beta-amyloid peptides is causing inflammation in the brain, which accelerates the degenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease.
Both the team of Dr. Michael Heneka and of Dr. Caterina Scuderi concluded that a shift in treatment approach is necessary. Modifying the glial cell inflammation will be the solution for a new, more effective Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
New Insights into Alzheimer’s Disease
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects many elderly people. It is more common in obese people and in type 2 diabetics. Newer research is concentrating on the inflammatory component of Alzheimer’s disease, which involves glial cells. Normally their task is to support the nerve cells. But in Alzheimer’s disease glial cells that attempt to remove beta-amyloid peptides start an inflammatory process. It is this inflammation, which makes the degenerative brain disease of Alzheimer’s worse. A German research group (Dr. Michael Heneka) and an Italian group (Dr. Caterina Scuderi) came to the same conclusion. They stated that researchers have neglected the inflammatory component of Alzheimer’s disease. Any future, successful therapy of this neurodegenerative disorder needs to include drugs that deal with the inflammation. At this point such drugs have not been developed. But the researchers were confident that such drugs will soon become available.
