19 Jun , 19:18
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Sensational discovery: protein from bacteria causing ulcers may become key to treating dementia
Scientists from Aarhus University (Denmark) have made an amazing discovery: a protein from the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, known as the cause of stomach ulcers, can prevent the development of dementia by blocking the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain. The results of this breakthrough research have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Science Advances.
According to current understanding, Alzheimer's disease occurs due to the accumulation of two proteins in the brain - beta-amyloid and tau protein. These proteins form plaques and tangles that disrupt the normal functioning of neurons. Existing medications aimed at removing amyloid deposits are effective only in the early stages of the disease and do not affect tau protein. Moreover, they can cause serious side effects, including brain swelling.
Danish researchers have proposed a fundamentally new approach to solving the problem. Instead of destroying already formed plaques, they focused on preventing their formation. During their work, scientists discovered that the protein fragment CagAN, produced by H. pylori, effectively suppresses the aggregation of both beta-amyloid and tau protein.
The experiments conducted demonstrated impressive results: even in minimal concentrations, CagAN completely blocked the formation of toxic structures. Further analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed: the protein interferes with the early stages of aggregation and prevents molecules from "sticking together" into dangerous clusters.
Particularly interesting was the finding that CagAN can stop the aggregation of other amyloid proteins as well - for example, IAPP, associated with type 2 diabetes, and alpha-synuclein, which plays a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease. This discovery paves the way for creating new universal drugs against various neurodegenerative and systemic diseases.
