Cancer might protect against Alzheimer's – this protein helps explain why
15 days ago
- #Alzheimer's disease
- #cancer research
- #medical mysteries
- Cancer and Alzheimer's disease rarely occur in the same person, suggesting a possible protective relationship.
- A study in mice found that a protein from cancer cells, cystatin C, may help break down Alzheimer's-related protein clumps in the brain.
- Epidemiological data shows an 11% decreased incidence of Alzheimer's in people diagnosed with cancer.
- Researchers spent 15 years on the study, including six years to identify cystatin C as the key protein.
- The findings could lead to new Alzheimer's treatments targeting the mechanisms identified in the study.