Alzheimer's disease is not a brain disease, according to an expert

 

Alzheimer's disease may not be a brain disease, according to an expert

The quest for a cure for Alzheimer's disease is a bit like a soap opera, full of twists and turns and, frankly, disappointments. The past few years have been particularly eventful. In 2022, a very serious 2006 study, which served as the basis for much research, was suspected of being based on somewhat... manipulated data. A year before that, the United States approved a new drug, aducanumab, even though even experts disagreed on its effectiveness. Some doctors say it's an opportunity to be seized, others cry foul. So, with millions of families waiting for a solution, why do we feel like we're stuck in place? We really wonder where all this is leading us.

The old trail that led nowhere

For decades, scientists have had a kind of obsession: a protein called beta-amyloid. The idea was that this protein formed clumps or plaques in the brain, a bit like rust, and that this was the cause of the disease. The logic seemed simple: get rid of these clumps, and we'll cure the sick. Unfortunately, after years and billions invested, this approach has not yielded any truly effective treatment. It's a bit like stubbornly trying to break down a door when the key might be right there. It's really high time we started thinking differently.

A revolutionary new idea from Canada

What if Alzheimer's disease wasn't, after all, a brain disease? It sounds crazy, put like that. Yet, this is the incredibly promising avenue being pursued by a team of researchers in Toronto. After 30 years of work, they tell us this: "We no longer think that Alzheimer's is primarily a brain disease. We think it's a disease of the immune system *inside* the brain." It's an idea that changes everything. Completely. Instead of looking at neurons, they look at the defense system that's supposed to protect them.

The immune system, our personal bodyguard

To fully understand, you need to know what the immune system is. It's quite simple: it's our body's security and repair team. Do you fall and scrape your knee? It's the body that cleans and repairs tissues. Do you catch a cold? It's the body that fights the virus. Well, our brain has exactly the same protection system. If there's a blow to the head or if bacteria ventures where it shouldn't, the brain's immune system immediately kicks in to clean up and fight off the intruders.

The tragedy: when the bodyguard mistakes the enemy

Here's the heart of this new theory. The famous beta-amyloid protein, the one blamed for all evils, is actually not an enemy. It's a normal and useful part of our immune system in the brain. Its role is to defend us. The problem, the real tragedy, is that it makes a terrible mistake. Because of chemical similarities, it is unable to differentiate between a bad bacterium and one of our own brain cells. So, instead of attacking only microbes, it starts attacking our brain by mistake. It is this slow and continuous attack on ourselves that causes memory loss and other symptoms. Alzheimer's is therefore an autoimmune disease: a disease where our own body turns against itself.

Why Standard Treatments Won't Work

If it's an autoimmune disease, you might think, "Great, let's use drugs that already exist for other diseases of this type, like rheumatoid arthritis!" Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The brain is an incredibly complex and fragile organ, a kind of very well-protected fortress. Conventional treatments probably won't work. But this new understanding opens the door to completely different research. The goal now is to find a way to calm this brain's runaway immune system, to "remind" it who are friends and who are foes, with drugs designed specifically for the brain.

Conclusion: A glimmer of hope for millions of families

What's truly encouraging is that scientists aren't putting all their eggs in one basket. In addition to this idea of ​​an autoimmune disease, other avenues are being explored: some believe the problem lies in our cells' 'energy factories', while others suspect infections or even a problem with the metals in our bodies. This excitement is excellent news. Because behind the scientific articles, there's a human emergency. More than 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease that can erase the memory of its own children's faces. Every new idea, every new avenue like this, isn't just another theory. It's a real glimmer of hope for those affected and for all those who love them. According to the source: theconversation.com