Dementia Gene Linked to Connections in Brain

Insights into how a gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease disrupts brain cells have been revealed by scientists led by Professor Tara Spires-Jones at the University of Edinburgh, reports Medical Xpress . Brain tissue from men and women with Alzheimer's showed that a protein called clusterin builds up in vital parts of neurons that connect cells, possibly damaging these links. The researchers say their findings shed light on the causes of Alzheimer's and could help to speed the search for a treatment. The study focused on synapses, or those connections between brain cells that allow the flow of electrical and chemical signals — signals that are key to brain health and vital for forming memories. Spires-Jones' team showed that synapses in people who had died with Alzheimer's contained clumps of clusterin and clumps of amyloid beta, the damaging protein that's found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Those without dementia symptoms had less of the damaging proteins in their synapses. These discoveries were made utilizing powerful technology that enabled the scientists to view detailed images of over one million synapses.