Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and, despite its huge impact, there’s still no effective cure. Its impact on society is huge and it has been calculated that, by 2050, the number of cases of Alzheimer’s will have tripled, rising from the current 1.2 cases in Spain to 3.6 million. As the disease advances, there’s progressive neurodegeneration that affects not only memory but also the ability to relate to others and even the individual’s own identity.

For years, it was believed that the brain damage associated with Alzheimer’s, especially in the regions essential for memory, only occurred when two proteins were present: amyloid beta and tau. However, this hypothesis could be about to change.

A study by the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), a research centre of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, has discovered that the accumulation of amyloid beta can, by itself, cause brain damage in the early stages of the disease. This finding, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, has been made possible thanks to samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 360 volunteers from the Alfa + cohort, funded by “la Caixa” Foundation, as well as the use of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

The results suggest that an accumulation of amyloid beta (as seen in the image) may be an early indicator of structural changes in the brain and of possible deterioration in memory before the appearance of obvious symptoms of the disease. The protein seems to directly affect the hippocampus, a key region for memory, so that acting on amyloid beta early on could significantly reduce the risks associated with Alzheimer’s. 

“This discovery highlights the importance of early detection and prevention. It also reinforces the need for clinical trials aimed at people with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s before the disease begins to manifest itself” explains Raffaele Cacciaglia, BBRC researcher and leader of the study. Find out more about the study in this X thread.