The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis conducted a study regarding a brain protein called Orexin and its possible connection to Alzheimer’s. The study, which was published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, was conducted using two sets of mice: Mice bred to be genetically predisposed to develop beta amyloid proteins, and mice who did not have the orexin gene. Orexin is a protein that helps the brain awaken after sleeping. The mice with without orexin displayed lower levels of beta amyloid proteins. This particular set of proteins is considered a risk factor for alzhiemer. In other words, an individual with higher levels of beta amyloid proteins might be more susceptible to Alzheimer’s. The researchers also examined the effect of higher levels of orexin and beta amyloid proteins. They found that higher levels of orexin led to higher levels of beta amyloid proteins. David M. Holtzman, the lead author of the study and the head of the Department of Neurology, suggests orexin as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s based on his study. He goes on to infer that preventing orexin from functioning might help patients sleep, which could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. The team that conducted this study is now exploring how sleep medication could affect beta amyloid plague levels.
Key Points:
- 1A protein in the brain called orexin may be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s.
- 2Researchers bred mice that were genetically predisposed to develop beta amyloid proteins
- 3The offspring of the mice that didn’t have the orexin protein had significantly less beta amyloid proteins, which would indicate a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.
A study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis revealed that a protein in the brain called orexin may be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s.
Read the full article at: https://www.alzheimers.net/12-17-14-sleep-protein-prevent-alzheimers/
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