A team of German researchers has made intriguing findings regarding the progression of Alzheimer's disease in the brain, occurring two decades before symptoms are observed. They discovered that immune cells in the brain exert a protective effect that lasts for 21 years prior to the first symptoms of the disease. This suggests the potential for treating Alzheimer's if a drug is developed to modify the activity of these cells.
The research was conducted at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Munich, and the study results were published in "The Lancet Neurology." The study involved 248 volunteers who underwent examinations over several years at different stages.
The assessments included evaluating cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and brain shrinkage imaging.
The research was led by molecular biologist Professor Christian Haass and neurologist Dr. Estrella Morinas Rodríguez.
The findings indicated that microglial cells, known as the immune cells in the brain, play a protective role for 21 years, and it is possible to modify their activity by altering a receptor part in these cells called Trem2.
Professor Haass stated, "We are still in the laboratory stage. However, current results in humans indicate that modifying Trem2 is a promising strategy to develop new options against Alzheimer’s disease."
