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Brain Geometry Linked to Alzheimer's Risk?
22 Oct
Summary
- Scientists explore if brain geometry influences Alzheimer's disease risk.
- Tau protein buildup in entorhinal cortex is linked to Alzheimer's.
- Study suggests mechanical stresses may affect Alzheimer's progression.
Scientists are beginning to explore a provocative idea: could the geometric structure of our brains predispose individuals to Alzheimer's disease? This line of inquiry seeks to unravel the mystery of 'selective vulnerability,' why certain brain areas are targeted by neurodegenerative diseases while others are spared.
The entorhinal cortex, a region near the brain's base, is often where tau protein tangles begin, signaling the early stages of Alzheimer's. A preliminary study indicated that tau buildup in this area correlates with disease progression, but only when the region is situated close to a specific anatomical notch.
This finding prompts a re-evaluation of Alzheimer's risk factors. Researchers are questioning whether the cumulative mechanical stresses from daily life and the effects of gravity over decades could create pressure points. Such biomechanical wear and tear might influence an individual's susceptibility to Alzheimer's and potentially explain why some people develop dementia while others do not.
Dr. John Crary, a neuropathologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and neural imaging bioengineer Frank Provenzano at Columbia University, have initiated a preliminary study involving 47 patients with mild cognitive impairment to investigate this hypothesis. Their findings were published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia this month.
