More effective treatment of Alzheimer’s
Pressmeddelande

Researchers at Uppsala University have designed new antibodies that might provide more effective treatment methods for Alzheimer’s disease. By designing antibodies that bind even to the smaller aggregates, or clumps, of the amyloid-beta protein, it may be possible to check the progress of the disease. The results presents in Translational Neurodegeneration.
Further information:
Greta Hultqvist, Senior lecturer and Associate Professor in Protein drug design, Uppsala University, email: greta.hultqvist@farmbio.uu.se, phone: +46-18-471 40 15, +46-70-225 35 22
More research: New method shows great potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, press release 2020,https://www.uu.se/en/press/press-release/?id=5232&typ=pm&lang=en
FACTS IN BRIEF: Amyloid-beta and aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the peptide amyloid-beta clumping in the brain. This clumping is called aggregation. Amyloid-beta not in aggregated form is present in all humans and does not cause disease, but when it starts to aggregate, that is when it becomes toxic. Initially, these aggregates are so small that they cannot be seen with a microscope. When they are this small, they can move about quite unhindered in the brain and damage neurons. If enough neurons die, you start finding it difficult to remember things.
The aggregates continue to grow and eventually become so large that you can see them with the naked eye. This is called plaque. In people who have died from Alzheimer’s disease, plaque is present in much of the brain.
In the past, it was thought that it was these plaques that were the villain, but now most researchers believe that they do not do much damage because they are large and immobile. Rather, it’s the tiny aggregates that are the most dangerous. Even these aggregates vary greatly in size and the smallest ones have been very difficult to target with various treatment methods.