‘Mystery’ cause of Alzheimer’s unlocked
A CURE for Alzheimer’s disease has moved a step closer after experts solved the mystery of how it is triggered. Researchers in the US found that the killer brain disease is sparked by the over-activation of AMPK, a key enzyme.
Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study suggests AMPK could be an important link between the build-up of amyloid in the brain and the breakdown of communication between nerve cells in mice, leading the way towards further studies in people. As AMPK is involved in many biological processes, much more work would be needed to know whether it could be a target for new Alzheimer’s drugs.
“Current treatments for Alzheimer’s can help with the symptoms but there are no treatments that can slow or stop the disease.”
Professor Franck Polleux of The Scripps Research Institute in California, who led the study which has been published in the journal Neuron, said: “These findings open up many new avenues of investigation, including the possibility of developing therapies.”