New Study Identifies Link Between Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers In Healthy Adults
ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2008) — A new study provides an insight into normal, physiological levels and association between proteins involved in development of Alzheimer's disease.
A group of scientists and physicians from the University of Washington and Puget Sound Veterans' Affairs Health Care System in Seattle, in collaboration with groups from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California San Diego, performed a study in cognitively normal and generally healthy adults, from young to old (age range 21-88 years), of both genders, measuring levels of different brain-derived molecules associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Investigators determined that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of apolipoprotein E (apoE), one of the most important proteins involved in transfer of fatty substances between different brain cells, are highly correlated with the levels of proteins known to be involved in development of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau.
While many studies have previously shown that apoE gene is very important for Alzheimer's disease development, the connection between apoE protein and other relevant CSF markers in healthy adults was not known. Although this type of study cannot establish causal associations, the results strongly suggest that the CSF levels of apoE may explain a significant proportion of the levels of APP- and tau-related biological markers in the healthy human brain, indicating a strong physiological link between apoE, APP and tau. In other words, the study points to a possibility that modulation of the levels of apoE may affect the levels of APP and tau in the brain.
Furthermore, the study has shown that people who have a "beneficial" genetic form of apoE (so-called APOE2), which is associated with lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, have lower CSF levels of beta-amyloid peptide 42, a molecule implicated in development of Alzheimer's disease plaques. This finding may explain some of the basis for the known protective effects of the APOE2 observed in large population studies.
Dr. Simona Vuletic, Northwest Lipid Metabolism and Diabetes Research Laboratories, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, commented, "Understanding the associations between these important molecules in the brain of cognitively normal, healthy people will help us develop better strategies not only for diagnosis, but possibly also better prevention and treatment for Alzheimer's disease. This study also provides baseline data and an opportunity to understand how these normal relationships change, leading to the disease."
Journal reference:
Simona Vuletic, Ge Li, Elaine R. Peskind, Hal Kennedy, Santica M. Marcovina, James B. Leverenz, Eric C. Petrie, Virginia M-Y. Lee, Douglas Galasko, Gerard D. Schellenberg, John J. Albers. Apolipoprotein E Highly Correlates with AßPP- and Tau-Related Markers in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 15:3; November 2008
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1 comment:
Hi interesting research now get together with the following.
Research by Judith Miklossy is fascinating
http://www.miklossy.ch/473.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*
Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes suggest that infection and local inflammation may play an important role in these chronic age related disorders.
There may also be some involvement of the adaptive immune system. Further investigations are essential since a parallel use of antibacterial and antiinflammatory drugs may prevent or slow down the disease progression.
The realization that pathogens can produce slowly progressive chronic diseases has opened new lines of research into Alzheimer’s disease.
The fact that pathogens may suppress, subvert or evade host defenses and establish chronic or latent infection has received little attention in the past.
Treatment of a bacterial infection and associated viral infection may result in regression and, if started early, prevention of disease. The impact on reducing healthcare costs would be substantial.”
Other interesting reserch
http://www.newsguide.us/education/science/Researchers-identify-cell-group-key-to-Lyme-disease-arthritis/
SAN DIEGO – (December 3, 2008) A research team led by the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology and Albany Medical College has illuminated the important role of natural killer (NK) T cells in Lyme disease, demonstrating that the once little understood white blood cells are central to clearing the bacterial infection and reducing the intensity and duration of arthritis associated with Lyme disease.
Thanks so much for your work you will all get there soon. I have suffered from Chronic Lyme Disease but after 2 years of antibiotics can agin walk around without pain. Hopefully I won't develop Alzheimer's, but know there is a higher risk so good luck with your research.
Joanne Guildford Surrey
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