Suvorexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist commonly prescribed to help treat insomnia reduced levels of the Alzheimer's-associated amyloid beta protein in the brain. The findings hint that the sleep medication could slow or stop Alzheimer's disease, but researchers say more research is needed to confirm the viability of the approach.
Gut bacteria affect the behavior of immune cells throughout the body and in the brain, including ones implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The findings open up the possibility of altering the microbiome to prevent or treat neurodegeneration.
Immune cells in the meninges come from bone marrow in the skull and migrate to the brain through special channels without passing through the blood. These immune cells help to guard the brain and spinal cord against inflammation and infection.