A new study suggests that astrocytes, a type of brain cell, are important for connecting amyloid-β with the early stages of tau pathology. Karyna Bartashevich/Stocksy
- Reactive astrocytes, a type of brain cell, could help scientists understand why some people with healthy cognition and amyloid-β deposits in their brains do not develop other signs of Alzheimer’s, such as tangled tau proteins.
- A study with over 1,000 participants looked at biomarkers and found that amyloid-β was only linked to increased levels of tau in individuals who had signs of astrocyte reactivity.
- The findings suggest that astrocytes are important for connecting amyloid-β with the early stages of tau pathology, which could change how we define early Alzheimer’s disease.
The accumulation of amyloid plaques and tangled tau proteins in the brain has long been considered the primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Drug development has tended to focus on targeting amyloid and tau, neglecting the potential role of other brain processes, such as the neuroimmune system.
Now, new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that astrocytes, which are star-shaped brain cells, play a crucial role in determining the progression of Alzheimer’s.
AstrocytesTrusted Source are abundant in brain tissue. Alongside other glial cells, the brain’s resident immune cells, astrocytes support neurons by providing them with nutrients, oxygen, and protection against pathogens.
Previously the role of astrocytes in neuronal communication had been overlooked since glial cells do not conduct electricity like neurons. But the University of Pittsburg study challenges this notion and sheds light on the critical role of astrocytes in brain health and disease.
The findings were recently published in Nature MedicineTrusted Source.
Previous research suggests that disruptions in brain processes beyond amyloid burden, such as increased brain inflammation, may play a crucial role in initiating the pathological sequence of neuronal death that leads to rapid cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s.
In this new study, researchers conducted blood tests on 1,000 participants from three separate studies involving cognitively healthy older adults with and without amyloid buildup.
They analyzed the blood samples to assess biomarkers of astrocyte reactivity, specifically glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in combination with the presence of pathological tau.
The researchers discovered that only those who had both amyloid burden and blood markers indicating abnormal astrocyte activation or reactivity were likely to develop symptomatic Alzheimer’s in the future.
Post time: Jun-08-2023