New research sheds light on protective mechanisms of the “Christchurch mutation.” Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered that a rare genetic variant known as the “Christchurch mutation” can block detrimental effects of apolipoprotein E4, the best-established risk factor for the most co
<p>Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have discovered that APOE4-producing neurons release an immune signaling molecule called HMGB1 at much higher rates than neurons producing other APOE variants. Upon release, HMGB1 activates brain immune cells called microglia, which then trigger inflammation and the degeneration of neurons.</p>
/PRNewswire/ Of all the known genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer s disease, the strongest is a gene for the protein called ApoE4. People with one.
/PRNewswire/ The race to develop drugs to treat Alzheimer s disease, which currently affects an estimated 6 million Americans, has been slow-going. Now,.
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IMAGE: Gladstone scientists uncover evidence that neurons are more sensitive to degeneration when they contain high levels of the protein apoE, which is associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer s. view more
Credit: Photo: Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes
SAN FRANCISCO, CA May 6, 2021 In the brain of a person with Alzheimer s disease, neurons degenerate and die, slowly eliminating memories and cognitive skills. However, not all neurons are impacted equally. Some types of neurons in certain brain regions are more susceptible, and even among those subtypes mysteriously some perish and some do not.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered molecular clues that help explain what makes some neurons more susceptible than others in Alzheimer s disease. In a study published in the journal