New Cell Model of Most Common Form of Alzheimer's Points to Molecular Causes, Drug Target

Medical Xpress reports that Harvard Medical School geneticists have created a new model-in-a-dish of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of the disease which tends to strike people without a family history. The model represents the first time researchers have identified the same molecular abnormalities across multiple sporadic Alzheimer's lines. The achievement, reported in Cell Reports , overcomes a major barrier for scientists aiming to pinpoint the causes of sporadic Alzheimer's and find drugs that might prevent or reverse its effects. The work also provides insights into early molecular changes that may lead to Alzheimer's and points to a potential treatment target. Until now, most "Alzheimer's in a dish" models have been derived from familial Alzheimer's, a rare form of the disease that runs in families, is caused by dominant genetic mutations, and often manifests before age 65. By contrast, the sporadic form is believed to arise from a slew of genetic and environmental risk factors that are not yet fully understood. The new model "is an intriguing in vitro system that has been missing from the field," said senior study author Bruce Yankner.