For decades, Alzheimer’s research has focused almost entirely on the brain. But a new study is pushing scientists to look elsewhere in the body for clues about what drives this progressive disease, which slowly erodes memory and thinking skills.
Researchers analyzed the genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s disease across a range of tissues and cell types, not just brain cells. They found genetic signals linked to Alzheimer’s risk in so-called “barrier” organs—tissues that directly interact with the outside environment, such as the skin, lungs, and gut—as well as in immune system cells throughout the body.
The findings, described in a study posted to the preprint server MedRxiv (meaning it has not yet undergone formal peer review), don’t prove that inflammation in these organs causes Alzheimer’s, nor do they show that the disease actually originates outside the brain. Instead, the research opens up a new avenue for exploring how the immune system, chronic inflammation, and brain health might be connected in ways scientists hadn’t previously mapped out.
If confirmed by further studies, this line of research could eventually reshape how experts think about Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, potentially expanding the focus beyond the brain to the body’s broader immune and inflammatory responses.
Curious about the science behind this discovery? Check out the original article for more details.
Source: <![CDATA[Alzheimer: inflamación en piel, pulmones e intestino podría estar relacionada]]> (RSS::excelsior.com.mx – Portada).
Image: MDGovpics, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).