An international group of researchers from the UK, Germany and the United States discovered the presence of unusual compounds of copper and iron in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In his article published in the journal Science Advances, the Group describes the opening of metals in two patients with Alzheimer’s disease and what it can mean for studying and treating disease.
Scientists have discovered in the samples of amyloid plaques taken in two dead patients with Alzheimer’s disease, some amount of copper and iron. These elements are normal in the body of healthy people, including the brain, however, there are pathogenic abnormal forms that can accumulate if their mechanisms regulating them are violated.
In particular, the researchers revealed nanoparticles of both metals in the middle of plaques, which were not in oxidized. The authors of the article note that this is the first case of such nanoparticles in human tissues. Researchers suggest that the discovery will help explain how Alzheimer’s disease harms cells. The surface of the nanoparticles has a high reactivity, which can lead to damage to the brain cells.
It is believed that amyloid plaques play an important role in the pathological process in Alzheimer’s disease, which is a deadly and incurable form of dementia. The reasons for the development of this disease are still not known, but scientists believe that this is due to incorrectly crossed proteins by beta-amyloids.