Recent research has unveiled a fascinating connection between specific brain cells and the potential protection against dementia. Despite the presence of Alzheimer’s indicators in the brain, individuals with a higher count of these particular neurons seem to resist cognitive decline. The prevailing theory about Alzheimer’s disease points to the accumulation of sticky amyloid proteins in the brain.
These proteins form clump-like ‘plaques’ that gradually kill neurons, leading to memory loss and impaired cognitive abilities. However, the presence of these plaques doesn’t always correlate with Alzheimer’s onset. Some individuals with amyloid clumps remain unaffected, while others without these clumps develop the disease. A team of researchers, including Neurobiologist Hansruedi Mathys from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, delved into this inconsistency.
They analyzed tissue samples from 427 brains, some of which showed signs of advanced Alzheimer’s, some with mild cognitive impairment, and others with no impairment. By examining cells from the prefrontal cortex and sequencing the active genes, they mapped out an atlas of the brain, highlighting different cell types.Â
Two specific cell types emerged as significant. One had genes coding for reelin, a protein linked to various brain disorders, and the other coded for somatostatin, a hormone that oversees numerous bodily processes. The study revealed that individuals with more of these cells exhibited no cognitive impairment, even if their brains had significant amyloid presence.
These cells, interestingly, were inhibitory neurons, responsible for halting neuronal communication. This discovery suggests that these neurons might play a previously unrecognized role in preserving cognitive functions that Alzheimer’s typically erodes. The findings also align with another study that identified a reelin mutation in a man with high amyloid levels but no Alzheimer’s symptoms. This correlation indicates that these inhibitory cells, especially those with reelin or somatostatin, might be especially susceptible to Alzheimer’s in certain individuals.Â
Experts in the field have lauded the research. Lea Grinberg, a neurologist from the University of California, San Francisco, noted that while most Alzheimer’s treatment strategies focus on targeting amyloid plaques, these new findings could pave the way for methods to shield the vulnerable brain cells. Jerold Chun, a neuroscientist at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, praised the single-cell sequencing technique and the resulting brain atlas, predicting its immense value for future research.Â
In summary, the study shines a light on the potential protective role of specific brain cells against dementia, offering a fresh perspective on Alzheimer’s research and potential treatment avenues. Â
Journal Reference Â
Reardon, S. (2023). The brain cells are linked to protection against dementia. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03012-7Â
