PROTEIN FROM THE LIVER MAY CAUSE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

According to a new study in mice, a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease is leaked from the blood to the brain of fat-carrying particles that carry toxic proteins.

''We have identified a possible ‘blood-to-brain pathway’ that could lead to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia worldwide, ”said lead author Professor John Mamo, director of Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute at Curtin University.

"Although we previously knew that a prominent feature of people living with Alzheimer's disease was the ongoing accumulation of toxic proteins within the brain called beta-amyloid, we did not know where the amyloid came from, and why it was implanted in the brain."

"Our research shows that these toxic proteins formed in the brains of people living with Alzheimer's disease are more likely to leak into the brain from fats that carry blood particles, called lipoproteins."

"This pathway to the bloodstream to the brain is important because if we can control the levels of lipoprotein-amyloid blood and prevent its leakage in the brain, this opens up new treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease and reduce memory loss."

Building on previous research that showed that beta-amyloid is made out of the brain by lipoproteins, Professor Mamo and colleagues studied blood-to-brain pathways by mice that synthesized engineering to produce only amyloid liver that makes lipoproteins.

"As we have predicted, research has found that mice that produce lipoprotein-amyloid in the liver are prone to inflammation of the brain, accelerating brain cell death and memory loss," said Professor Mamo.

“While more studies are needed now, these findings suggest that high levels of these toxic proteins in the blood can be targeted with human diet and other drugs that can directly target lipoprotein amyloid, thus reducing its risk or reducing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. ”