Aspirin against Alzheimer's
Aspirin protected the brains of mice from the manifestations of Alzheimer's disease
Natalia Pelezneva, Naked Science
American scientists have concluded that aspirin can enhance the activity of processes that prevent the appearance of amyloid plaques in the brain. These accumulations of beta-amyloid peptides are one of the main features associated with Alzheimer's disease. The study is published in the Journal of Neuroscience (Chandra et al., Aspirin induces Lysosomal biogenesis and attenuates Amyloid plaque pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease via PPARa).
According to scientists, aspirin promotes the activity of lysosomes – cellular organoids containing various enzymes. Lysosomes are involved in many important processes: they help the cell digest trapped nutrients and destroy unnecessary internal structures. They can also dissolve some external elements, including preventing the appearance of amyloid plaques.
The method was tested on a special genetic line of 5XFAD mice: these animals are prone to rapid accumulation of beta-amyloid Aß42 (the basis of amyloid plaques). Rodents received aspirin in low doses for 30 days. In addition, the researchers studied how aspirin affects the brain cells of mice directly. In both cases, the number of plaques in the animals' brains decreased.
The effect of aspirin on the brain of mice (Tg + Asp)
© Journal of Neuroscience
According to the authors of the work, aspirin promotes the activity of the PPARa receptor, which belongs to the group of receptors activated by peroxisomal proliferators (PPARs). Like other representatives of this group, it participates in the processes of cell differentiation and metabolism in the body. PPARa also regulates the level of the protein TFEB (transcription factor-EB), which promotes the formation of new lysosomes. So, aspirin stimulates the processes of "cleaning" tissues from accumulations of dangerous peptides. Scientists point out that other drugs can act in a similar way – for example, gemfibrozil, which is used to reduce the level of lipids in the blood. At the same time, the researchers preferred to use aspirin, since it is popular and has fewer side effects.
It is not yet known whether the described process helps to improve cognitive abilities and whether aspirin will work effectively in human brain tissues. Further research will help to understand this.
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