Alzheimer’s Disease May Have Systemic Origins, Study Finds
Research shows potential transmission of Alzheimer’s disease through bone marrow transplants
Alzheimer’s disease, traditionally considered a brain-centric condition, may have systemic origins and can be accelerated through bone marrow transplants, according to a recent study. Researchers found that mice, transplanted with bone marrow stem cells from donors with familial Alzheimer’s disease, developed the disease at an accelerated rate. These findings highlight the need for cautious screening of donors for Alzheimer’s markers to prevent inadvertent disease transfer. The study, published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, underscores the systemic nature of Alzheimer’s, challenging the previous belief that it solely originated in the brain.
Key Findings
- Systemic Nature of Alzheimer’s: The study provides evidence that Alzheimer’s disease should be considered systemic, with amyloids from outside the brain contributing to its development.
- Impact of Bone Marrow Transplants: Bone marrow stem cells from mice with familial Alzheimer’s disease were found to transfer the disease to healthy mice, accelerating its onset.
- Implications for Transplants and Transfusions: The findings advocate for the screening of blood, organ, and stem cell donors to prevent potential transmission of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease Spreads Systemically, Study Finds
Familial Alzheimer’s disease can be transferred via bone marrow transplants, according to a study published in Stem Cell Reports. Researchers transplanted bone marrow stem cells from mice carrying a hereditary version of Alzheimer’s disease to normal lab mice, resulting in the recipients developing the disease. These findings challenge the existing paradigm of Alzheimer’s disease, which suggested that it was only produced in the brain. The study also suggests that screening for Alzheimer’s disease in potential donors of blood, tissue, organs, and stem cells is crucial to prevent the inadvertent transfer of the disease during cellular therapies and blood product transfusions.
Examining Alzheimer’s as a Systemic Disease
This groundbreaking study demonstrates that amyloid proteins external to the brain can induce Alzheimer’s disease in the central nervous system. Previously, Alzheimer’s disease was primarily understood as a brain-specific condition. The research, led by senior author Wilfred Jefferies from the University of British Columbia, suggests that Alzheimer’s should be regarded as a systemic disease. Consequently, more cautious screening procedures for Alzheimer’s markers should be implemented in blood and organ donors, as well as stem cell and blood product transfusions, to prevent unintentional disease transmission.
Transplanted Stem Cells Accelerate Disease Onset
To investigate whether peripherally sourced amyloid could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease development, the research team transplanted bone marrow stem cells containing a familial version of the disease’s associated gene into two strains of mice. The results were remarkable. The transplant recipients exhibited symptoms of cognitive decline and behavioral differences much earlier than anticipated, accelerating the disease’s onset. Molecular and cellular hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease also became evident in both groups of recipient mice, including amyloid buildup in the brain and leaky blood-brain barriers.
Pioneering Research with Future Implications
This study reveals that Alzheimer’s disease can originate from amyloid produced outside of the central nervous system, providing further evidence of its systemic nature. Additionally, the researchers utilized mice with a mutant human gene, highlighting the potential transfer of the disease even between different species. Further studies will focus on examining whether transplanting tissues from healthy mice to those with familial Alzheimer’s disease can ameliorate the disease. The researchers also plan to investigate the transfer of Alzheimer’s disease via other forms of transplants and transfusions, aiming to expand our understanding of disease transmission between species.
Funding: This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation/Weston Brain Institute, the Centre for Blood Research, the University of British Columbia, the Austrian Academy of Science, and the Sullivan Urology Foundation at Vancouver General Hospital.
This news article is based on a study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
