The expert spoke about new discoveries in the research of Alzheimer's disease

For many years, Alzheimer's disease has been associated with the accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins. However, new research points to the role of inflammation. This is stated in the material of the journal Nature Medicine, which was reviewed by Izvestia on August 4.

Now scientists are increasingly inclined to believe that these plaques and tangles do not exist on their own. According to Microsoft founder Bill Gates, chronic inflammation and the immune response may also be important factors in the development of the disease.

He said that in 2023, with the participation of Johnson & Johnson, he helped create the Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium (GNPC). It is the largest international platform for the collection and analysis of data on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

"The new GNPC study not only confirms that inflammation plays an important role, but also suggests that the body's response to infections may also be a factor," he said.

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Gates said that one of the biggest discoveries in recent years is related to the gene encoding apolipoprotein E (APOE). For decades, it has been known that having two copies of the APOE4 variant increases the risk of the disease by more than 10 times, but the reason remained unclear.

The article states that GNPC researchers have identified specific markers in the blood that can detect the presence of the high-risk APOE4 gene with 99% accuracy. These findings also clarified its role in inflammatory and infectious reactions that are thought to contribute to the development of the disease.

Gates expressed confidence that Alzheimer's disease may cease to be a sentence, but for this it is necessary to maintain funding and international scientific cooperation.

"We are closer than ever to the day when a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease will no longer mean a death sentence — but only if we continue to support researchers and allow them to collaborate," he said.

On May 21, doctor Anna Shelobanova told Izvestia which vegetables can protect against dementia. According to her, regular potatoes can be a real treasure for the brain. In addition, the Mediterranean diet is able to reduce the level of harmful amyloid plaques in the brain, actually rejuvenating it for 18-20 years.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.