Alzheimer's disease (AD) mainly affects the older population. Recent research found early disease signs in cell culture models of early human brain development, raising the possibility that the disease has its origins much earlier in life, possibly during embryogenesis – the formation and development of an embryo.
Alzheimer’s disease is a highly prevalent, debilitating, and potentially fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. Patients are typically diagnosed at an advanced disease stage, limiting the possibilities for early therapeutic intervention.
Although for most patients the disease cause is unknown and likely multifactorial, some patients have known mutations in genes affecting neuronal function and survival, leading to familial forms of AD. Abnormal brain structures have been seen in children and young adults with familial AD years before the onset of AD symptoms, suggesting that the disease may have its origins much earlier in life.
The researchers now asked how AD-associated gene mutations affect early human brain development. The researchers grew so-called cortical spheres, which are small clumps of cells resembling human embryonic brains, from CRISPR-edited stem cell lines harboring fAD mutations.
Intriguingly, AD mutations interfered with normal development of these cortical spheres, whereby mutant spheres were larger and contained less mature and functioning neurons compared to cortical spheres without the mutations.
By pinpointing the underlying molecular pathways, the researchers could identify points of intervention to restore normal brain development in their cortical sphere model. Interestingly different types of AD-associated mutations caused distinct developmental abnormalities in the cortical spheres, highlighting the need for tailoring therapies individually for each patient.
This work, published in the recent issue of Stem Cell Reports, paves the way for studying AD in its early stages with the possibility of identifying more effective or preventive treatments for AD in a patient-specific fashion.
https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(23)00197-2
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Ffamilial-alzheimer-s_2&filter=22
Embryonic origins of Alzheimer's disease
- 1,274 views
- Added
Latest News
How antisense non-coding RN…
By newseditor
Posted 07 Jul
3D maps of diseased tissues…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Jul
How GLP-1 receptor agonists…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Jul
Pan-cancer proteogenomics e…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jul
Fertility treatments could…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jul
Other Top Stories
Vasomotion is critical in clearing amyloid from the brain
Read more
Using health records and not genetic data to calculate genetic link…
Read more
Tau and amyloid team up to damage synapses!
Read more
Neurons regulating early alcohol consumption identified!
Read more
A new FUS mediated toxicity modifier in ALS identified
Read more
Protocols
Pan-cancer proteogenomics c…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jul
A systems biology-based ide…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jul
Tongue orthotopic xenograft…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
Monitoring norepinephrine r…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jul
BicemuS: A new tool for neu…
By newseditor
Posted 26 Jun
Publications
dsRNA formation leads to pr…
By newseditor
Posted 07 Jul
BACH1 inhibits senescence,…
By newseditor
Posted 07 Jul
Bone transport induces the…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Jul
Hypothalamic neuronal activ…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Jul
Prevention of Falls in Olde…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jul
Presentations
Myelin plasticity in the ve…
By newseditor
Posted 10 Jun
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar