Promising discovery for a future Alzheimer's treatment

Researchers have identified a mutation of a protein that can protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease in mice. This discovery opens new perspectives for the treatment of this neurodegenerative pathology, which affects approximately 900,000 people in France.


Molecular Psychiatry published a study in which scientists demonstrated that a single injection of a mutated amyloid protein improved the memory of mice with Alzheimer's disease. Although preliminary, these results are encouraging for the development of future treatments in humans.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two types of brain lesions: amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid deposits are associated with the beta-amyloid peptide, while neurofibrillary tangles are linked to the phosphorylated Tau protein. These lesions lead to memory loss and cognitive decline.

Researchers used a mutated amyloid protein discovered in the Icelandic population known for its protective effects against cognitive decline. They injected this protein into the brains of mice in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The results showed that the treated mice exhibited a reduction in Tau protein accumulations, as well as neuron and synapse damage. Moreover, their memory significantly improved.

Marc Dhenain, a research director at CNRS, emphasizes the necessity of developing gene therapy to express this protective protein in the human brain, a more practical method than a local injection. Clinical trials will need to be conducted to verify if these results can be replicated in humans.

The injection of this mutated protein allowed the mice to remain protected against the disease for several months. This success in animals offers hope for new preventive therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The anticipated increase in the number of people affected by dementia in Europe makes this research all the more important. Indeed, projections by Alzheimer Europe predict a doubling of the number of people with dementia by 2050.

This study paves the way for potential treatments that could slow down or halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, bringing hope to millions of people and their families.