Research has found how the degenerative brain illness devastates brain cell connections even in its early stages. This breakthrough should introduce new treatment of Alzheimer, as well as new methods for early diagnoses.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have identified a new molecular mechanism of the degenerative brain disease on its early stage. This new molecular mechanism directly affects synapse loss of the brain. Synapses are necessities for all brain functions most especially in memory retention and learning. In Alzheimer's disease, synapse loss occurs at the early stage. This is the time when affected people are not aware of their condition and only shows a mild symptoms of cognitive impairment.
Dr. Vladimir Sytnyk, the lead researcher from the University of New South Wales School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, stated that they are studying the neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2), a brain protein, to further understand the changes the brain undergoes when it gets afflicted by Alzheimer's disease.
The initial study of NCAM2 illustrates how this brain protein are destroyed by beta-amyloid proteins. The beta-amyloid proteins are anomalous clumps that form in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
"Our research shows the loss of synapses is linked to the loss of NCAM2 as a result of the toxic effects of beta-amyloid," Dr. Sytnyk added. "It opens up a new avenue for research on possible treatments that can prevent the destruction of NCAM2 in the brain."
The Alzheimer's disease is an incurable brain degenerative disease that is the most common form of dementia. Dementia affects 342,800 Australians and this number is expected to increase to 400,000 within 10 years' time. There are more than 1,800 new cases of dementia in Australia alone. Dementia/Alzheimer's disease is the second leading cause of death in Australia after coronary heart disease.
