Researchers have found that a 'bad' protein which is indirectly responsible for causing Alzheimer's may also help fight the neurodegenerative disease by growing new neurons in the brain.
The brain protein known as the amyloid precursor protein (APP) has previously been considered to be mostly bad, in the sense that APP is indirectly responsible for causing Alzheimer's disease.
Research conducted by Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, an institute of the University of Tasmania, is shedding new light on the biology of Alzheimer's disease, in particular on APP.
Specifically, APP breaks down in the brain to produce a protein called Abeta, which is the direct cause of the disease. However, researchers have recently discovered that APP has a positive function.
Senior member of Menzies, Professor David Small, said the study discovered that APP is responsible for the growth of new neurons (nerve cells) in the brain.
"In addition to its role in causing Alzheimer's disease, APP may also be part of a solution to the disease," Small said.
"We may be able to use APP to encourage the brain to replace damaged neurons," said Small.
"Dissecting out the yin and yang of APP's actions may be a key to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease as well as a number of other similar diseases. Our recent findings already present us with several avenues for developing new treatment strategies," he said.
The study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
