{"id":76302,"date":"2024-09-16T11:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T11:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/5dfa0430f2da28681602da4d8da47710"},"modified":"2024-09-16T11:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T11:00:10","slug":"alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer\u2019s disease could be slowed by boosting a certain protein in the brain, researchers say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay\" readability=\"24.690978886756\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\" readability=\"28.376199616123\">\n<p>Join Fox News for access to this content<\/p>\n<p>Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account &#8211; free of charge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\" readability=\"21.43949044586\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Terms of Use<\/span> and <span class=\"waslinkname\">Privacy Policy<\/span>, which includes our <span class=\"waslinkname\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/span>. <\/div>\n<p><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><span class=\"waslinkname\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Boosting a specific protein in the brain could help slow the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, a new study has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">The longstanding theory is that Alzheimer\u2019s occurs when a protein called amyloid-beta 42 (A\u03b242) transforms into plaques that build up in the brain, causing damage to neural cells and leading to cognitive decline.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers from the University of Cincinnati have challenged that assumption, instead suggesting that the disease is caused by low levels of healthy, functioning A\u03b242, according to a UC press release.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>ALZHEIMER\u2019S AND OTHER DEMENTIA DIAGNOSES CAN VARY BY ZIP CODE, NEW STUDY FINDS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>They based this hypothesis on the fact that newly approved monoclonal antibody medications \u2014 including lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) \u2014 have had the unintended outcome of raising levels of the protein in the brain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/343\/192\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/686\/384\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/672\/378\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1344\/756\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/931\/523\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1862\/1046\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/720\/405\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1440\/810\/brain-dna-genetics.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say.jpg\" alt=\"Brain DNA genetics\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>Boosting a specific protein in the brain could help slow the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, a new study has found.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The new Alzheimer&#8217;s treatments, which were designed to remove amyloid plaques, unintentionally raised A\u03b242 levels, and this may explain their positive effects on cognition as much as \u2014 or better than \u2014 amyloid reduction,&#8221; lead study author Alberto J. Espay, MD, professor of neurology at the Gardner Family Center for Parkinson&#8217;s disease and Movement Disorders at UC, told Fox News Digital via email.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Higher A\u03b242 levels after treatment were associated with slower cognitive decline, suggesting that restoring this protein to normal levels might be more beneficial for Alzheimer\u2019s patients than removing amyloid.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>DEMENTIA WARNING: DON&#8217;T EVER SAY THESE 16 THINGS TO LOVED ONES WITH THE DISEASE, EXPERTS ADVISE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the study, the researchers reviewed data from nearly 26,000 Alzheimer&#8217;s patients who participated in 24 randomized clinical trials for the newly approved antibody treatments.<\/p>\n<p>They compared the cognitive abilities of patients before and after taking the new medications, and found that the increased amounts of A\u03b242 were linked to &#8220;slower cognitive impairment and clinical decline.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The findings were published in the medical journal Brain on Sept. 11.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Understanding amyloid<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Amyloid plaques aren\u2019t necessarily a bad thing, according to the researchers.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Along with other studies, the collective evidence suggests that amyloid plaques are a response of a normally reactive brain to many stressors, some infectious, some toxic, some biological,&#8221; Espay told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/amyloid-beta.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say-1.jpg\" alt=\"Amyloid beta\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>The longstanding theory is that Alzheimer\u2019s occurs when a protein called amyloid-beta 42 (A\u03b242) transforms into plaques that build up in the brain, causing damage to neural cells and leading to cognitive decline.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;They are a sign the brain is dealing with a stressor appropriately.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The researcher referred to amyloid plaques as &#8220;the tombstones of A\u03b242,&#8221; noting that they can\u2019t do anything harmful to the brain.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote\" readability=\"5\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;Most researchers do not believe Alzheimer\u2019s is driven by only one biological mechanism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Amyloid plaques don\u2019t cause Alzheimer\u2019s, but if the brain makes too much of them while defending against infections, toxins or biological changes, it can\u2019t produce enough A\u03b242, causing its levels to drop below a critical threshold,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That\u2019s when dementia symptoms emerge.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The study questions the long-entrenched idea that amyloid plaques directly cause Alzheimer\u2019s and that removing them is part of the solution.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/Alzheimers.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say.png\" alt=\"PET scan results\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"10.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"16\">\n<p><span>&#8220;Beta amyloid is certainly an important and key player, but we also know that tau protein, the immune system, vascular system, metabolic health, environment and more all play a role in the disease process,&#8221; an Alzheimer&#8217;s expert said.<\/span> <span>(AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Building the levels of A\u03b242 without removing amyloid \u2014 which is quite futile, and can be harmful \u2014 is worth testing as a future therapy,&#8221; Espay added.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, the UC research team plans to investigate therapies that directly increase A\u03b242 levels without targeting amyloid.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018A very complex disease\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ozama Ismail, PhD, director of scientific programs at the Alzheimer\u2019s Association in Washington, D.C., was not involved in UC\u2019s study, but commented on the findings.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/span><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While this A\u03b242-related hypothesis may turn out to be a part of what causes and encourages progression of Alzheimer\u2019s, it is a very complex disease, and most researchers do not believe Alzheimer\u2019s is driven by only one biological mechanism,&#8221; he told Fox News Digital.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>DEMENTIA HAS 2 SHOCKING NEW RISK FACTORS, STUDY FINDS, WITH TOTAL OF 14 NOW ON LIST<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Beta amyloid is certainly an important and key player, but we also know that tau protein, the immune system, vascular system, metabolic health, environment and more all play a role in the disease process.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While FDA-approved drugs targeting amyloid are now available and in use, Ismail calls for a comprehensive approach to Alzheimer\u2019s treatment that involves multiple approaches.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/343\/192\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/686\/384\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/672\/378\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1344\/756\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/931\/523\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1862\/1046\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/720\/405\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1440\/810\/alzheimers-disease-older-lady.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/alzheimers-disease-could-be-slowed-by-boosting-a-certain-protein-in-the-brain-researchers-say-2.jpg\" alt=\"Alzheimer's disease - older lady\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>&#8220;Understanding the entire underlying biology and related mechanisms is important to expand our pipeline of treatments and prevention strategies,&#8221; an expert said of Alzheimer&#8217;s treatment.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>He recommends &#8220;a combination of therapies targeting multiple mechanisms, as well as lifestyle interventions, much like how other major diseases like diabetes, HIV\/AIDS and heart disease are treated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Added Ismail, &#8220;Understanding the entire underlying biology and related mechanisms is important to expand our pipeline of treatments and prevention strategies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Potential limitations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Espay also acknowledged the limitation that none of the published studies have allowed access to the individual-level data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><i><strong><u>For more Health articles, visit <\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span><span class=\"waslinkname\"><i><strong><u>www.foxnews.com\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We can only work with the group-level data published,&#8221; he told Fox News Digital. &#8220;Despite this limitation, the results were robustly supported.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Fox News Digital reached out to Biogen and Eisai (makers of Leqembi) and Eli Lilly (maker of Kisunla) requesting comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account &#8211; 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