Could Alzheimer’s Begin in the Nerves, Not the Brain?

New research suggests that the balance and walking issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease may not be “top-down” problems caused by brain decay, but rather “bottom-up” failures in the peripheral nervous system.

The study utilized “human-on-a-chip” technology to prove that genetic mutations for familial Alzheimer’s can damage the connection between nerves and muscles directly, independent of the brain or spinal cord.

Read it HERE

Can you have Alzheimer’s without symptoms?

More than 30% of adults over 70 have amyloid or tau (proteins implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease) in their brains yet have no apparent cognitive problems. This may indicate greater cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to compensate for damage.

See more HERE

Alzheimer disease protection from the periphery

The apolipoprotein E ε3 Christchurch variant provides remarkable resilience against Alzheimer disease by limiting tau propagation and suppressing neuroinflammation. New research reveals that this protection extends to the periphery, where ‘lipid-loaded’ extracellular vesicles stabilize the blood–brain barrier, which offers a novel systemic mechanism for developing potent disease-modifying therapies.

Read more HERE (paywall)

Scientists just watched Alzheimer’s damage happen in real time

Scientists at Oregon State University have captured something researchers have long struggled to see: the real-time chemical interactions that help drive Alzheimer’s disease. By watching how metal ions—especially copper—trigger harmful protein clumping in the brain, the team uncovered a clearer picture of how the disease develops at a molecular level.

Read the article HERE