How can it be that some people show the biomarkers of Alzheimer's but never develop symptoms? This phenomenon, known as ‘resilience’ or ‘resilience’, sheds new light on Alzheimer's disease and may offer new leads for treatment.
Resilient individuals: a fascinating phenomenon
Research by Luuk de Vries, conducted at VU University Amsterdam and the Netherlands Brain Institute, focuses on why certain people with Alzheimer's biomarkers do not develop clinical symptoms. Despite these biomarkers normally indicating Alzheimer's, these individuals remain cognitively intact. This research, funded by the Brain Foundation and published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, is crucial in the search for more effective treatments.
Using the Dutch Brain Bank, the researchers identified 11 resilient individuals. Although this number was lower than expected, it provides a valuable opportunity to understand why some brains are more resistant to Alzheimer's disease.
Frontal cortex: the secret of resilience?
The researchers focused on the frontal cortex to study the molecular changes underlying this resilience. They compared gene expression in three groups: people with proven Alzheimer's, resilient individuals, and a control group. Interesting findings emerged, such as increased production of the antioxidant metallothionein by astrocytes, which may prevent harmful tau proteins from accumulating.
They also found that the ‘unfolded protein response’, a process that removes toxic proteins, remained relatively normal in the resistant group. In addition, these individuals had more mitochondria in their brain cells, which contributed to better energy production. These factors may explain why this group retained their cognitive functions.
Can we boost resilience?
Although it is still unclear exactly how resilience works and whether we can boost it, previous studies suggest that a healthy lifestyle, including exercising regularly, maintaining social contacts and staying cognitively active, can delay Alzheimer's symptoms. Interestingly, the data also show that there may be gender-dependent differences in resilience, which is particularly relevant given that women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Future research within this study will focus on the role of lipids and proteins in this resilience, with the hope of gaining new insights that could strengthen the fight against Alzheimer's.
