Alzheimer's: Dr Chris discusses the early signs of condition
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Cholesterol consists of fatty deposits found in the bloodstream, that build up in the arteries causing them to narrow and constrict overtime. The primary role of cholesterol however, is to aid the production of hormones in the body, but these responsibilities may stretch further than previously thought. Scientists have discovered cholesterol may play a key role in the formation of Alzheimer’s plaque, fuelling production of amyloid cells.
Scientists from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and their collaborators identified a new characteristic of the previously established link between cholesterol and amyloid production.
A new key finding has shed light on the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients, suggesting the production of amyloid is the primary cause of the disease, as opposed to a side effect of Alzheimer’s.
Astrocytes are a host of cells with distinctive functional features that vary within specific areas of the brain.
Brain diseases are often characterised by the inflammation of astrocytes. And in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, these cells typically undergo drastic changes.
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The team found that astrocytes are one of the key drivers of Alzheimer’s; notably by making and distributing cholesterol to brain cells.
They observed that the build up of cholesterol fuelled amyloid beta production, which in turn boosted plaque accumulation.
While cholesterol levels are maintained at low levels in neurons, in Alzheimer’s, these neurons lose their ability to regulate amyloid production, which results in the formation of plaque.
Researcher Heather A Ferris said: “This study helps us to understand why genes linked to cholesterol are so important to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our data points to the importance of focusing on the production of cholesterol in astrocytes and the transport to neurons as a way to reduce amyloid beta and prevent plaques from ever being formed.”
The team reported that blocking the production of cholesterol significantly decreased amyloid beta production in lab mice.
The new findings offer important insight into how and why the plaques form, and researchers believe this could explain why genes associated with cholesterol have been linked to increased risk for Alzheimer’s.
Since amyloid beta production is tightly controlled in the brain, the findings suggest it may an important role in brain cells.
While there are many biological process at play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, a line of research suggests that abnormal amyloid and tau proteins work together to cause cell death.
The death of brains cells interrupt the connection between neurons, which affects their ability to communicate with one another.
These disruptions have a variety of causes and usually cannot be reversed, as no treatments exist to halt or reverse the progression of cell death in the brain.
The researchers believe further studies could help identify ways to prevent the over-production as a potential strategy against the disease.
Ferris added: “If we find strategies to prevent astrocytes from over-producing cholesterol, we might make a real impact on the development on Alzheimer’s disease.
“Once people start having memory problems from Alzheimer’s disease, countless neurons have already died.
“We hope that targeting cholesterol can prevent that death from ever occurring in the first place.”
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