New Study Could Provide Potential Drug Targets for Alzheimer’s

In a new study, a process called Axon Myelination may help offer potential new drug targets for Alzheimer’s.

This new process has brought to light the changes in gene expression. 

(Photo: iStock)

According to a study, certain genes in the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients show distinctive cellular paths. Researchers said that this study could provide them with new drug targets for Alzheimer’s.

Researchers said, that this study has opened up avenues to understand Alzheimer’s better and have a more in depth view of the processes that are altered during Alzheimer’s in the human brain.

In an article by The Health site, the study reveals that a process known as Axon Myelination is disrupted in patients with Alzheimer’s. Moreover, gene response to the disease differs significantly between the brain cells of men and women.

As a part of the study, 24 postmortem brain samples were analysed which were from people who showed increased amounts of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and 24 people who did not show any of these signs. A series of cognitive tests were also performed on the subjects. The process included single cell RNA sequencing on 80,000 cells from the subjects.

Using the single cell approach, researchers were able study not only the abundant cell types but also the non neuronal brain cells which were significantly rare. Distinct gene expressions were found in these cell types.

Many changes in genes were connected to axon regeneration and myelination. Myelin is a sheath which insulates axons enabling them to transmit electrical signals. Correlations were also found between gene expression patterns and other measure of alzheimer’s severity.

Various modules of genes were also identified which appeared to be linked to aspects of the disease. The most significant discovery however, was the large difference between the brain cells from mail and female patients of the disease. Male patients showed less pronounced changes in the gene expression.