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A new study has identified higher levels of the protein meprin-β in the brains and cerebrospinal fluid of people with Alzheimer's disease, adding to growing evidence that the enzyme may be linked to biological processes underlying the condition.
The findings, published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, suggest that the active form of meprin-β becomes increasingly elevated as Alzheimer's disease progresses. Researchers say the results point to a possible connection between the protein and the buildup of beta-amyloid, one of the defining features of Alzheimer's.
The condition currently has no known cure, but researchers hope the findings can offer a new indicator of the disease that could be used to test for treatments in the future.
"This study adds an important piece to our understanding of the complex biology behind Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Steven Chance, founder and chief scientific officer at Oxford Brain Diagnostics, told Newsweek. "Fluid biomarkers can help identify signs of Alzheimer's, such as amyloid buildup, but they don't tell us how early the brain is affected or how its structural integrity changes over time.
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The findings, published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, suggest that the active form of meprin-β becomes increasingly elevated as Alzheimer's disease progresses. Researchers say the results point to a possible connection between the protein and the buildup of beta-amyloid, one of the defining features of Alzheimer's.
The condition currently has no known cure, but researchers hope the findings can offer a new indicator of the disease that could be used to test for treatments in the future.
"This study adds an important piece to our understanding of the complex biology behind Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Steven Chance, founder and chief scientific officer at Oxford Brain Diagnostics, told Newsweek. "Fluid biomarkers can help identify signs of Alzheimer's, such as amyloid buildup, but they don't tell us how early the brain is affected or how its structural integrity changes over time.
Scientists find new Alzheimer's clue in spinal fluid—what it could mean
Researchers hope the findings of new research could be used to develop treatments in the future.
