Scientists discover the 'missing link' that triggers Alzheimer’s

Daily Mail ^ | 9-3-13 | Ellie Mae Zolfharifard

[Dysart]

Researchers have discovered a protein that they claim is the missing link to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. They found that blocking this protein with an existing drug can restore memory in mice with brain damage that mimics the disease. The findings could offer hope of developing drugs to slow the degenerative illness.

'What is very exciting is that of all the links in this molecular chain, this is the protein that may be most easily targeted by drugs,' said the study’s senior author Stephen Strittmatter at Yale School of Medicine.

'This gives us strong hope that we can find a drug that will work to lessen the burden of Alzheimer’s.'

During Alzheimer's disease protein 'plaques' develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. People with Alzheimer's also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brain involved with the transmission of messages within the brain. Scientists have already provided a partial molecular map of how Alzheimer’s disease destroys brain cells. In earlier work, Professor Strittmatter’s lab showed that the amyloid-beta peptides, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, couple with prion proteins. By an unknown process, the coupling activates a molecular messenger called Fyn. The new findings, published in the journal Neuron, reveals the missing link in the chain, a protein within the cell membrane called metabotropic glutamate receptor 5, or mGluR5.

[Dysart]

Original Title: Scientists discover the 'missing link' that triggers Alzheimer’s - and hope findings could lead to drugs that restore memory

[Jonty30]

That is awesome.

[Dysart]

Relevant: Statin boost can protect against onset of dementia in old age: Patients given most potent drugs are three times less likely to suffer from disease

[onona]

Truly Awesome !

[Maringa]

But like nuclear cold fusion, probably 10 years away from testing...Hopefully they will move quickly to figure out how to use this....

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Dysart.

[WashingtonSource]

Bump

[proxy_user]

Here is a digest of original article, published today:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627313005527

I don’t think the MSM is onto this yet, but it won’t take long. Wow!

[montanajoe]

I take Simvastatin and it kills my memory with a daily dose. I have been only taking it once a week and don’t have the memory problems

[erlayman]

This really interesting. There have been so many conflicting results with Alzheimers and statins but I think mostly negative showing they work strongly and directly against the disease.

[Dysart]

Well,I too, take simvastatin— but it’s an every other day regimen and have for a few years and my memory is perfectly fine. Or maybe it’s only been one year. I don’t recall. Anyway no ill effects for me.

[Dysart]

Even the article details some conflicting data (which they attribute to a particular statin found wanting.) Not all statins are equal.

['smith]

That’s great for us, but why would you want a mouse to remember anything?

[GOPJ]

Hope it works...

[hoosiermama]

FYI

[Bigg Red]

This sounds wonderful.

Prayers up for a cure to this awful disease.

And prayers up for all of those who suffer because of it.

[Joshua]

I take Simvastatin and it kills my memory with a daily dose. I have been only taking it once a week and don’t have the memory problems

---

Don’t take any statins, they’ll kill you. I refused all statins and my Dr. finally gave up and prescribed an over the counter Red Yeast Rice. It keeps my numbers where they need to be.

[TangoLimaSierra]

...but why would you want a mouse to remember anything?

Well, if he's the one keeping track of your keys.

[An American in Turkiye]

Never heard of red yeast rice. It’s OTC? How much did it drop your levels? LDLs?

[JaguarXKE]

Now I remember where I put that cheese!