American scientists from the Buck Institute for Aging Research in California have discovered a potential way to regenerate the brain in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
Experts studied a protein called KIBRA, which is found in the kidneys and brain. It is localized in synapses in the brain and is necessary for the formation of memories. Tests have shown that KIBRA is missing in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease.
“We wondered how lower levels of KIBRA affect signaling at synapses and whether a better understanding of this mechanism might provide some insight into how to repair synapses damaged during Alzheimer’s disease,” said study co-author Grant Kauwe.
To understand KIBRA’s effect on synapses, the team created a shortened, functional version of the protein. Experiments on laboratory mice revealed that KIBRA increased the stability of synapses and restored memory functions.
Scientists noted that KIBRA can be used as a therapy to improve memory in dementia patients, even if toxic proteins that cause degradation remain in the body.
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