Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of age-related dementia, caused by the storing of the protein called beta-amyloid that combines to form amyloid plaques in the brain. The amyloid affects the neurons in the brain, which disables people to properly diagnose behaviors and thoughts. Recently, a group of neurologists, collaborating with the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center and the Institute for Memory Impairments, proposed a new discovery that states that the body’s immune system may play a larger role in Alzheimer’s disease than originally thought. The immune cells that reside in the brain, microglia, appear to fight a losing battle in Alzheimer’s disease, and the malfunction of the immune system is the main cause of Alzheimer’s disease. To test this idea, scientists modified the immune cells into three types of cells: T-cells, B-cells and NK-cells. The experiment was tested on normal mice and mice with Alzheimer’s intact with the immune system. Sixth months later, scientists found the Alzheimer’s mice with intact immune systems, including antibodies, which are made of B-cells, that have accumulated in the brain and are associated with microglia. Later, scientists transferred bone marrow in the mice, which increased T-cells and NK-cells, allowing B-cells to aid microglia in fighting beta-amyloid. Since the immune system gets weaker when people get old, people keep losing antibodies that can fight amyloid plaques. Therefore, Alzheimer’s disease more frequently occurs to older people.

This new discovery can become the key in neuroscience by possibly leading the way for neuroscientists to find ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease. If this can be the starting point to treat Alzheimer’s disease, there will be fewer people suffer and living in happiness after working hard throughout their lives.

<Xiangning Li, Temple City High School, 10th Grade|>