Alzheimer’s disease is a mental health condition which adversely affects thousands of people in the UK every year. Up until now, however, the causes have been relatively unidentified. This makes it difficult for people to identify whether or not their wellness may be at risk from this debilitating disease, and also gives people very little about how to protect their wellbeing from falling victim to it.
New studies carried out at Temple University, however, seem to have identified two proteins called amyloid beta and tau, which appear to be present in those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the researchers have also found that inhibiting, or at least controlling, a brain enzyme known as 5-lipoxygenase could be the key to controlling these proteins that appear to cause the damage.
High levels of the enzyme in the brain seemed to have a strong link with the high levels of the tau protein. Tau protein is most commonly found in the areas of the brain which control cognition and memory function, so there is a strong possibility that they are having an adverse effect on these body functions. Symptoms such as memory loss are often found in Alzheimer’s-related dementia, and this is called tauopathy for this reason.
The studies have shown that normally this tau protein is an important part of cell health, but the increased 5-lipoxygenase levels cause a disruption of the protein, as too many phosphate groups attach to it. This changes the ability of the neurons to transmit electrical signals between cells, and can therefore affect the brain’s ability to learn, form new memories or perform other cognitive functions which are often a challenge in Alzheimer’s patients.
The study proved that lowering the levels of the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme made it possible for the tau protein to work correctly, reducing symptoms in Alzheimer’s sufferers.
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