Unraveling the Neurobiological Mystery of Alzheimer's Disease
Global Alzheimer's Prevalence Projection
Imagine a library where the books suddenly start rearranging themselves, shelves begin to vanish, and crucial information becomes permanently inaccessible. This chaotic scene mirrors what happens in the brain during Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that currently affects over 50 million people worldwide 1 .
Current global cases
Projected US cases by 2060
Seniors die with Alzheimer's or dementia
Originates from amyloid precursor protein (APP) and forms amyloid plaques that accumulate between neurons, first identified by Dr. Alois Alzheimer over a century ago 9 .
Normally stabilizes microtubules but becomes hyperphosphorylated in Alzheimer's, forming neurofibrillary tangles that disrupt cellular transport 2 .
Mounting evidence now suggests a complex interplay between these two proteins, with amyloid often acting as the instigator and tau as the executioner 7 .
Protein Levels in Bigenic Mouse Study 7
| Protein | Function in Neuron | Change in Alzheimer's | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLC1 | Part of kinesin motor complex | Markedly decreased | Disrupted transport of essential materials |
| Tau | Stabilizes microtubules | Misshapen and forms clumps | Microtubule instability and transport breakdown |
| APP | Precursor to Aβ, normally transported | Accumulates intracellularly | Further amyloid production and neuronal dysfunction |
Table based on research findings 7
Visualizes protein aggregates in living brains with specific tracers 8 .
Measures biomarker concentrations in blood (SIMOA, IMR) 4 .
Binds to pathological proteins (Alz50, AT8, PHF1) for detection.
Recreates human pathology in animals for hypothesis testing.
Recent years have witnessed groundbreaking advances that mark a significant shift in Alzheimer's treatment trajectory 1 .
First drugs shown to slow progression of early Alzheimer's, though with side effects including brain swelling and bleeding 1 9 .
Matching the right intervention to the right patient at the right stage of disease, with NIH funding 495 clinical trials 1 .
Testing existing medications like epilepsy drugs that might benefit specific Alzheimer's subpopulations 1 .
The journey to understand Alzheimer's disease has been long and fraught with challenges, but the scientific progress has been remarkable.
Years since Alzheimer's discovery
Clinical trials funded by NIH
Proteins primarily involved