How does Alzheimer's disease arise?

2002/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Changes in the white matter of the brain can be the origin of Alzheimer's disease, although until now it was thought that the causative agent was the gray matter of the brain. The conclusion is that biochemist Alex Roher from Arizona has made known. Scientists knew that Alzheimer's causes changes in the white matter of the brain, but believed that they were due to changes in gray matter. Roher says the process may be contrary.

In the brain, very fine gray tissue surrounds the white base. Gray tissue is a neuronal system, brain processor. Neurons send messages from the brain to the nervous system with axons. Axons are coated with a substance called myelin, which has the ability to send signals faster, and which is the component of white matter.

To carry out the research, the Arizona research team analyzed two groups of patients: those diagnosed by autopsy of Alzheimer's disease and those killed without dementia. Studies show that the myelin of those diagnosed with Alzheimer's contained much less protein, lipids and cholesterol, so Roher believes that white matter is the cause of Alzheimer's disease. “If the myelin layer is not formed properly, the axons may not be able to send brain signals to the nervous system.”