As a result of the study, scientists from the Wim Annaert Laboratory (VIB-KU Leuven) in Belgium found that a specific protein fragment known as APP-CTF, which is an amyloid precursor, can disrupt the process of removing “cellular waste” from the brain, which precedes neuronal dysfunction in the disease. Alzheimer’s. These results were published in the journal Developmental Cell (DevCell).
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by gradual loss of cognitive function, memory impairment and changes in behavior. In the scientific community, it is believed that this occurs due to the accumulation of toxic proteins (β-amyloid), products of the breakdown of amyloid precursor protein (APP), in the brain.
These fragments begin to accumulate in neurons in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, before the first symptoms appear.
A new study has found that APP-CTF may trigger even earlier, latent manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists argue that these protein fragments are toxic to neurons and their accumulation in the brain during the removal and production of APP protein molecules (which plays an important role in the formation of connections between neurons) disrupts the process of removing “cellular waste” from the brain.
The accumulation of APP-CTF fragments leads to malfunctions of lysosomes, the “garbage bins” of neurons, which disrupts the calcium balance in them. This leads to the accumulation of cholesterol in lysosomes and a decrease in their ability to decompose cellular waste.
According to scientists, this pathology plays a key role in neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists hope that their discovery will contribute to the development of new methods to combat this disease. They suggest that stimulating the correct removal of toxic APP-CTF fragments could prevent Alzheimer’s disease long before symptoms appear.
Tags: pathway Alzheimers disease discovered
