Brain plaque could cause Alzheimer’s, study reveals

AUSTRALIAN scientists have identified an early warning sign for Alzheimer’s, evident in the brain years before the disease causes any cognitive decline.

Scientists at the CSIRO have mapped the presence of amyloid-beta “plaques” in the brain, which are known to accumulate alongside the development of the degenerative condition.

Until now, it was not known whether this plaque was toxic and contributed to Alzheimer’s disease or whether it was coincidental.

Dr Olivier Salvado and his research colleagues found when the plaque was located in a particular spot in the brain it could cause damage to the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory functioning.

“We found when there is plaque in this inferior temporal cortex then the hippocampus gets atrophied,” Dr Salvado said.

It is thought the plaque disrupts connections with the hippocampus, causing its neurons to die.

The discovery reveals one mechanism by which Alzheimer’s disease could unfold within the brain plus a possible way to spot it early.

“The only way of diagnosing Alzheimer’s at the moment, in the clinic, is to do some testing on memories and cognitive function,” Dr Salvado said.

“But when all those functions are in decline the neurons are already dead … it is way too late (to intervene).

“Before you get decline, several years before you get this atrophy of the brain and several years before that you get this plaque accumulation.”

The research, conducted in partnership between the CSIRO and the Queensland government, is published in the journal Neurology.

SOURCE: www.heraldsun.com.au