Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that scientists are striving to find treatments for. The accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain is a major characteristic of Alzheimer’s and linked to cognitive decline. However, some individuals, referred to as having asymptomatic Alzheimer’s, are resilient to cognitive decline. Recently, researchers identified a protein called neuritin in the brains of these individuals that may help to prevent cognitive decline. This protein could serve as a therapeutic target to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s in vulnerable individuals. Researchers used a novel approach to identify neuritin by conducting an observational study to identify a potential therapeutic target in humans. This molecule was then tested in clinical trials and proved to be successful. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded aggregates of beta-amyloid and tau proteins, which are associated with the loss of dendritic spines in brain regions involved in cognition. Despite this, some cognitively healthy older adults with asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease can withstand the onset of dementia. The protein neuritin plays a critical role in maintaining cognitive function in these individuals.
