What did the University of Vermont researchers discover about dementia?

Researchers discovered a new mechanism involving a fat molecule that regulates blood flow to the brain, potentially explaining dementia-related issues.

How does the PIP2 molecule affect brain blood flow according to the study?

PIP2 acts as a brake on the Piezo1 sensor; low levels cause overactivation and disrupt normal brain blood flow, as seen in Alzheimer's mouse models.

Can restoring PIP2 levels help with dementia?

Restoring PIP2 levels in mouse models largely recovered normal blood flow, suggesting it could be a therapeutic target for dementia.

Home / Science / Fat Molecule Could Reverse Brain Flow Issues

Fat Molecule Could Reverse Brain Flow Issues

20 Jan

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Summary

A fat molecule, PIP2, acts as a brake on brain's Piezo1 sensor.
Low PIP2 levels cause overactive Piezo1, disrupting brain blood flow.
Restoring PIP2 levels largely recovered normal blood flow patterns.

Fat Molecule Could Reverse Brain Flow Issues

Researchers have uncovered a critical mechanism controlling blood flow to the brain, a process thought to be vital in various dementias. The discovery centers on a fat molecule named PIP2, which functions as a regulator for the Piezo1 protein, a pressure sensor within blood vessel cells.

In mouse models exhibiting Alzheimer's-like conditions, scientists observed that PIP2 levels were abnormally low. This imbalance caused the Piezo1 sensor to become overactivated, leading to improper distribution of blood flow throughout the brain. This disruption is a significant factor in conditions like vascular dementia.

Significantly, when the researchers successfully restored PIP2 levels in these mice, they observed a substantial recovery of more normal blood flow patterns. This finding presents a promising new avenue for investigating the underlying causes of dementia and developing potential therapeutic interventions to improve cerebral blood flow.