Is energy the key to Alzheimer's disease?

A team of researchers from the University of Adelaide has found a link between the way cells generate energy for brain function and a mutated gene found in Alzheimer's disease
.

University of Adelaide News 24 December 2021

The findings, published in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms , have spurred further investigation of this link as a fundamental, early driver of Alzheimer's disease in humans
.

The research was published in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms (latest impact factor: 5.
758) on November 29, 2021

In this study, researchers analyzed the genetic mutations associated with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in the brains of young adult zebrafish (zebrafish)
.

Using cutting-edge genetic techniques and mathematical analysis, the team compared gene activity and found subtle differences between normal and mutant fish
.

While the researchers found that different mutations in different genes can have many different effects on brain cell function, they also found that Alzheimer's mutations affect a very important cellular function, the use of oxygen within cells to produce energy
.

Zebrafish

Lead researcher Dr Karissa Barthelson, from the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Laboratory at the University of Adelaide, said: "This is very interesting because we know that when Alzheimer's disease eventually develops, people's brains become severely deprived of energy
.

"When we became aware of this common link, we took our study a step further and reanalyzed data from another research group who had studied a significant Alzheimer's disease in mice disease genes
.

"We could see a similar effect, which boosts our confidence that we've identified a fundamental, early driver of Alzheimer's disease in humans
.

The brain is made up of many different types of cells with complex ways of producing and sharing energy
.

"The discovery of this important common early factor driving the development of Alzheimer's disease is very satisfying
.

The cost to society of Alzheimer's disease is enormous, not only in caring for those who can't take care of themselves, but also in the loss of relationships with loved ones as memory and cognition fade, researchers say

" Energy production is the most fundamentally important cellular activity that supports all other functions , especially in highly active organs such as the brain," said Dr.

" If we can get a detailed understanding of what's going wrong with oxygen use and energy production, we might be able to find ways to stop the disease before it starts -- which would greatly benefit our aging population

University of Adelaide, Australia, founded in 1874

references

Source: University of Adelaide

Is Energy the Key to Alzheimer's Disease?

Reference:

Karissa Barthelson, Morgan Newman, Michael Lardelli; Brain transcriptomes of zebrafish and mouse Alzheimer's disease knock-in models imply early disrupted energy metabolism.

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