Hokkaido University and Toppan have discovered a way to identify amyloid beta in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, using biomarkers in blood samples.
To put it simply, Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes the brain’s neurons and synapses to deteriorate over time. Amyloid (A) builds up in the brain and forms plaques, which is one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease affects predominantly seniors over the age of 65, and there is presently no way to slow its progression or reverse its effects. Therefore, countries like Japan with an elderly population are particularly concerned about Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers at Hokkaido University and Toppan, lead by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Kohei Yuyama from the Faculty of Advanced Life Science, have created a biosensing system that can detect A-binding exosomes in the blood of mice, which rise when A accumulates in the brain. The outcomes of their study were reported in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.
Digital ICATM (idICA) analysis of A-binding exosomes in mouse models demonstrated an increase in A-binding exosome concentration as mouse models aged. As the Alzheimer’s disease model mice utilized in this study exhibit a progressive increase in A in the brain as they age, this finding is very noteworthy.
There are now no viable therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, and there are also not many reliable diagnostic tools. Until postmortem brain examination becomes routine, there will never be a sure way to identify Alzheimer’s. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is a way to evaluate A accumulation in the brain, however it is a very intrusive test that cannot be repeated, and positron emission tomography is quite costly. Therefore, a cheap, reliable, and generally accessible diagnostic test is required.
A accumulation in the brain is linked to A-binding exosomes produced by neurons, which breakdown and transport A to the microglial cells of the brain, according to previous work by Yuyama’s lab. Membrane-bound vesicles, or exosomes, are released from cells and carry cell surface markers.
