Scientists identify root cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Why in the NEWS?

• New research has revealed that stress granules, clumps of protein and RNA that form during stress, may be a possible root cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Key Points:

• Recently, scientists have discovered the possible root cause of Alzheimer's disease in an important study.
• This research has been published in the journal Alzheimer and Dementia and according to it, the formation of stress granules may be the main reason for the development of this neurodegenerative disease.

What will you read next in this topic?

• Alzheimer's disease and its severity
• Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
• Relation between stress granules and Alzheimer's
• Biological stress and its implications for Alzheimer's
• Exposure to pollution and pesticides
• Prevention and potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease
• Future prospects

Alzheimer's disease and its severity

• Alzheimer's disease is one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. 
• Currently, about 7 million Americans suffer from this disease, and by 2050 this number may increase to about 13 million. 
• So far, medicines are available to manage the symptoms of this disease, but there is no sure cure for it. 
• Scientists have researched for years to know the causes of this disease and found that genetics, age, environmental factors and lifestyle can affect its likelihood.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Early symptoms:

• Memory loss (forgetting recent events)
• Misplacing things
• Difficulty with language (forgetting words)
• Trouble making decisions
• Direction confusion (losing sense of place and time)

Moderate stage symptoms:

• Confusion, irritability, and behavioural changes
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Sleep problems and hallucinations (seeing or hearing the wrong things)

Severe stage symptoms:

• Inability to communicate
• Difficulty walking and swallowing
• Being completely dependent on others

Relation between stress granules and Alzheimer's

• Recent studies found that during stress, clusters of proteins and RNA are formed in the cells, which are called stress granules. 
• Normally these granules help the cell to recover from stress and dissolve after some time. 
• But in individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease, these granules accumulate in the cell and start disrupting essential biological processes.
• Stress granules disrupt the movement of molecules between the cell's nucleus and cytoplasm, affecting gene expression. 
• This results in tau protein tangles and inflammation, which are considered key biological markers of Alzheimer's disease.

Biological stress and its implications for Alzheimer's

• According to researchers, stress granules can be produced due to a variety of biological stressors. These include:
• Exposure to toxins
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Virus infection
• Oxidative stress
• Genetic mutations

Exposure to pollution and pesticides

• According to Michael Schneider Berry, MD, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, biological stress has a profound effect on cell functionality. 
• It is different from emotional stress, although both can affect health.

Prevention and potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease

• Since the formation of stress granules may be one of the possible root causes of Alzheimer's disease, researchers are focusing on ways to prevent it. 
• Although more studies are needed, some lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of this disease:
  • Balanced diet: A diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants can improve brain health.
  • Regular exercise: Physical activity can help prevent neurodegenerative diseases by increasing blood flow to the brain.
  • Adequate sleep: Good sleep helps in cell repair and brain cleansing.
  • Social interaction: Participating in social activities is essential to maintain mental alertness.

Future prospects

• This study is an important step towards the treatment of Alzheimer's. 
• Scientists hope that after understanding the role of stress granules better, an effective treatment for this disease can be developed. 
• If a way can be found to control stress granules, Alzheimer's disease can be prevented in the early stages.
• This new approach in understanding Alzheimer's disease can not only open a new path for treating this disease but can also be helpful in studying other neurodegenerative disorders.