JCI insight: Early link between key proteins and Alzheimer's disease

January 26, 2021 // --- In the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease, when subtle changes occur in the brain but no cognitive symptoms are observed, the cortical appears a brief state of overexcitement.
to date, several studies in animals have shown that tau protein and β-amyloid protein (closely related to the development of Alzheimer's disease) are associated with increased cortical excitability and brain network dysfunction.
, however, the relationship between the accumulation of Alzheimer's-related proteins and cortivity overexcitement is still little known in the early stages of human disease.
(Photo Source: Www.pixabay.com) In a recent study, scientists at the ULiège Swing Accelerator Research Center (CRC In vivo Imaging/GIGA) studied whether the first deposits of tau and β-amyloid proteins in the brains of healthy individuals aged 50 to 70 were associated with higher levels of cortex excitability.
this, the authors combined different neuroimaging methods (magnetic resonance imaging, electron emission fault scanning) to express the number of tau and β-amyloid proteins in their first aggregation area.
, head of the laboratory, explains.
, the researchers used transcranial magnetic stimulation in combination with electro-encephalogram technology to measure the excitability of participants' cortical corticals in a non-invasive manner.
the results of this study showed that an increase in the amount of tau protein in the brain, its main aggregation site, was particularly associated with an increase in cortical excitability levels, while the researchers did not observe a significant relationship between the β-amyloid protein content in the upper cortical layer.
these results suggest an early link between proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, first observed in humans, and their effects on brain function.
authors believe that measuring excessive cortivity may be a useful marker for providing information about the progression of certain brain pathological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease, thus helping to detect early cognitive symptoms in the first place in the most vulnerable people.
(Bioon.com) Source: First observation of the old association between proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease Original source: Maxime Van Egroo et al, Early Brainstem (18F) THK5351 uptake linked is to corticalexability in healthyaging, .font-style: italic; "> JCI Insight (2020). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.142514