Scientists may have found how Alzheimer's kills brain cells

7 hours ago

Researchers identified a previously overlooked brain cell death mechanism called karyoptosis, which may explain neuron loss in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.
The study found evidence of karyoptosis in 35% of brain cells from Alzheimer's patients versus 15% in healthy older adults, linking toxic protein buildup to nuclear disintegration.
A key molecular pathway involving p38 MAP kinase and LaminB1 was uncovered; blocking these reduced karyoptosis markers in rat neurons, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
The findings could lead to new treatments aimed at slowing cell death by targeting this pathway, potentially widening the window for disease-modifying therapies in dementia.

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