Alzheimer's is a common form of dementia, affecting thousands of people in Sweden each year.
A study has revealed that an early sign of Alzheimer's disease is higher metabolic activity in the hippocampus.
Let's find out more.
A surprising study
The experiment used mice that developed Alzheimer's-like changes in a similar way to humans, with increased metabolism in younger mice followed by changes in brain cell recycling processes.
Interestingly, metabolic changes were detected before the accumulation of characteristic plaques in the brain.
The study emphasizes the importance of preserving healthy metabolism in the brain and could lead to early diagnostic methods and potential interventions for Alzheimer's disease.
The scientists analyzed gene activity in the hippocampus at various stages of the disease using a technique called RNA sequencing.
This revealed that increased mitochondrial metabolism is an early feature of Alzheimer's.
They also examined synapses, the connections between brain cells, using electron microscopy.
Here, they found an accumulation of autophagosomes, which break down spent proteins, causing disruptions in protein function.
The scientists plan to delve deeper into the role of mitochondria and autophagy in Alzheimer's disease, conducting further studies using a more advanced mouse model of the disease.
It might be helpful
These findings suggest that protecting mitochondrial and autophagic functions may hold the key to slowing down Alzheimer's progression.
The study was funded by grants from various organizations and private donations, with no conflicts of interest declared by the researchers.
