New scientific discovery
Russian researchers have discovered a small molecule known as "HAEE," which occurs naturally in human blood, but its levels in Alzheimer's patients are about half those of healthy individuals, opening the door to exploring its use as a biomarker for detecting the disease and developing future treatments.
Study details and comparison
The scientific website "Science Alert" reported on Saturday that the study, conducted by researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with "Life Mission" and published in the journal "PNAS Nexus," found the molecule in blood samples from 150 healthy volunteers, compared to decreased levels in 200 patients clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
The study showed that the "HAEE" molecule is designed to help reduce the aggregation of "beta-amyloid" protein, which forms plaques in the brain associated with the disease, by inhibiting reactions involving zinc ions that contribute to the aggregation of this protein.
Molecule levels and causes
Analyses showed that the average concentration of the molecule in blood samples of Alzheimer's patients was about 175 picograms per milliliter, compared to about 360 picograms per milliliter in healthy individuals, which is approximately half the level recorded in the healthy group.
Researchers suggest that the decrease in molecule levels may be linked to a decline in its natural production in the body or increased consumption in processes related to the disease, although the exact causes of this decrease remain unclear and require further research.
Future prospects
Researchers noted that the results could help develop a blood test for detecting Alzheimer's, and could also support studies on using an artificial version of the molecule as a potential treatment for the disease, although these applications still require additional studies to verify their accuracy, safety, and efficacy.
Researchers emphasize that the results represent an initial step in understanding the relationship between the molecule and Alzheimer's, especially since the diagnosis in the study was based on clinical assessment, necessitating further research to determine the reliability of the molecule as a biomarker.
Alzheimer's is a progressive neurological disease that affects brain cells and is the most common cause of dementia, affecting memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform daily activities.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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