Scientists Discover Ability to Predict Dementia From Single Molecule
WASHINGTON (Dispatches)---Scientists who recently identified the molecular start of Alzheimer's disease have used that finding to determine that it should be possible to forecast which type of dementia will develop over time -- a form of personalized medicine for neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study from UT Southwestern shows that single toxic tau proteins that stick together and spread degeneration across the brains of dementia patients have different shapes. The folds of these molecules hold information that could help diagnose -- and perhaps one day treat -- neurodegeneration in its earliest stages.
"Our expanded understanding of the tau protein structure changes how we think about detecting and treating Alzheimer's disease and related dementias," said Dr. Marc Diamond, Director of UT Southwestern's Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases. "The next step is to translate this knowledge into simple clinical tests that doctors will use to diagnose and eventually stop the neurodegeneration process at its earliest stages."
The latest study shows that harmful single tau molecules take different shapes that each correlates to a distinct type of larger assembly that will form and self-replicate across the brain. Dr. Diamond's lab already established in a 2016 study that the structure of larger tau assemblies determines which type of dementia will occur -- which regions of the brain will be affected and how quickly the disease will spread. But it was unknown what specified these larger structures. The new research reveals how a single tau molecule that changes shape at the beginning of the disease process contains the information that determines the configuration of the larger, toxic assemblies. This finding suggests that characterization of the conformation of single tau molecules could predict what incipient disease is occurring -- Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.
A new study from UT Southwestern shows that single toxic tau proteins that stick together and spread degeneration across the brains of dementia patients have different shapes. The folds of these molecules hold information that could help diagnose -- and perhaps one day treat -- neurodegeneration in its earliest stages.
"Our expanded understanding of the tau protein structure changes how we think about detecting and treating Alzheimer's disease and related dementias," said Dr. Marc Diamond, Director of UT Southwestern's Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases. "The next step is to translate this knowledge into simple clinical tests that doctors will use to diagnose and eventually stop the neurodegeneration process at its earliest stages."
The latest study shows that harmful single tau molecules take different shapes that each correlates to a distinct type of larger assembly that will form and self-replicate across the brain. Dr. Diamond's lab already established in a 2016 study that the structure of larger tau assemblies determines which type of dementia will occur -- which regions of the brain will be affected and how quickly the disease will spread. But it was unknown what specified these larger structures. The new research reveals how a single tau molecule that changes shape at the beginning of the disease process contains the information that determines the configuration of the larger, toxic assemblies. This finding suggests that characterization of the conformation of single tau molecules could predict what incipient disease is occurring -- Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.