A protein in your brain can be your weapon against Alzheimer’s disease

New research suggests that a protein named CD33 found in your brain can help you fight Alzheimer’s disease.

By: IANS | | Updated: December 16, 2019 1:08 pm

Alzheimer's disease affects more than 44 million people around the world. © Shutterstock.

Researchers have found that a protein that regulates white blood cells in the human brain could protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, Macauley’s research has shown that the most common type of CD33 protein plays a crucial role in modulating the function of microglia. “The fact that CD33 is found on microglia suggests that immune cells can protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease under the right circumstances,” said Abhishek Bhattacherjee, first author and postdoctoral fellow in the Macauley lab.

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 44 million people around the world. “These findings set the stage for future testing of a causal relationship between CD33 and Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as testing therapeutic strategies to sway microglia from harmful to protecting against the disease – by targeting CD33,” said Macauley.

“Microglia have the potential to ‘clean up’ the neurodegenerative plaques, through a process called phagocytosis — so a therapy to harness this ability to slow down or reverse this mental health disorder can be envisioned,” Macauley said

Published : December 16, 2019 1:04 pm | Updated:December 16, 2019 1:08 pm

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