最新糖心Vlog

A team of researchers at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide has found a link between the way that cells produce energy for brain function and the mutated genes found in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.

The discovery published in has prompted further examination of the link as a fundamental, early driver of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease in humans.

鈥淚f we can understand in detail what is going wrong with oxygen use and energy production, we may see ways of stopping the disease before it starts 鈥� and that would enormously benefit our ageing population.鈥�Dr Karissa Barthelson, the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Genetics Laboratory .

In the study, the researchers analysed the young adult brains of zebrafish with gene mutations associated with early-onset Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. Zebrafish were chosen for the study because they produce very large families, which makes it easier to detect subtle effects.

The team used cutting-edge gene technology and mathematical analysis to compare gene activity and detect subtle differences between the normal fish and those with the mutations.

While the researchers found different mutations in different genes have many different effects on brain cell function, they also found Alzheimer鈥檚 disease mutations affect one very important cell function in common 鈥� the use of oxygen within cells to produce energy.

Lead researcher Dr Karissa Barthelson from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Genetics Laboratory said: 鈥�This is very interesting because we know when Alzheimer鈥檚 disease eventually develops, people鈥檚 brains become severely deficient in energy production.

鈥淲hen we realised this common link we took our research one step further and re-analysed data from another research group that had studied an important Alzheimer鈥檚 disease gene in mice.

鈥淲e could see a similar effect, and this reinforces our confidence that we have found a fundamental, early driver of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease in humans.鈥�

Brains are made up of many different types of cells that have complicated ways of producing and sharing energy. The Adelaide research group now wants to examine how Alzheimer鈥檚 disease mutations affect those different cell types.

鈥淚t is very satisfying to have found this important common, early factor driving the development of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.

The researchers say the costs of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease to society are huge, not only in caring for those who cannot care for themselves but also in lost relationships with loved ones as memories and cognition fade.

鈥�Energy production is the most fundamentally important cellular activity supporting all other functions, particularly in highly active organs such as brains,鈥� said Dr Barthelson.

鈥淚f we can understand in detail what is going wrong with oxygen use and energy production, we may see ways of stopping the disease before it starts 鈥� and that would enormously benefit our ageing population.鈥�