The Italian discovery could help in new treatments
An Italian study has verified, in laboratory tests on rats, that Alzheimer’s reduces the activation of astrocytes, also called “stellar cells”, of the cerebral cortex, which compromises the plasticity of the connections between neurons – fundamental phenomena for the processes of memory and learning.
The research was conducted by a group of experts from the Neuroscience Institute of the National Research Council of Padua and Pisa (CNR-IN) and from the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Padua. The results, published in the scientific journal “Nature Communications”, can help in the early diagnosis of the disease and in the development of new targeted treatments.
“Until now, research has mainly focused on neuron dysfunctions, but numerous studies had demonstrated the importance of astrocytes, cells that continuously and dynamically interact with neurons for correct brain functioning”, explains the CNR-IN researcher and study author, Micaela Zonta.
According to the specialist, in the project developed by the Italians, “we found a reduction in the activation of astrocytes in the cerebral cortex responsible for receiving sensory stimuli”.
“This defect compromises neuronal synaptic plasticity, a phenomenon that underlies memory and learning processes. We thus explored the sensory memory capacity of these animals, revealing that they were unable to hold in memory the recognition of an object known with tactile exploration,” he adds.
The study showed that this deficit was caused by the decrease of a particular protein, called Stim1.
By introducing its production into astrocytes, “a complete reactivation of its signal and the recovery of synaptic plasticity” were obtained.
“This result is important because it proposes a new mechanism that can be acted upon to counteract the progression of cognitive symptoms,” concludes the researcher. .
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
