A University-led study has found that blocking a receptor in the brain responsible for regulating immune cells could protect against the memory and behaviour changes seen in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, published today in the journal Brain, was jointly funded by the MRC (Medical Research Council) and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
It was originally thought that Alzheimer’s disease disturbs the brain’s immune response, but this latest study adds to evidence that inflammation in the brain can in fact drive the development of the disease. The findings suggest that by reducing this inflammation, progression of the disease could be halted.
The team hope the discovery will lead to an effective new treatment for the disease, for which there is currently no cure.
Dr Diego Gomez-Nicola, lead author of the study and an MRC New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) fellow at the University, said:
“These findings are as close to evidence as we can get to show that this particular pathway is active in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
“The next step is to work closely with our partners in industry to find a safe and suitable drug that can be tested to see if it works in humans.”
You can read the full press release here.