One of the most heartbreaking moments for families coping with Alzheimer’s disease is when a spouse, child or lifelong friend is no longer recognized. New research from the University of Virginia may help explain why that happens and could eventually lead to treatments that protect this deeply personal form of memory.
Researchers found that the loss of “social memory”—the ability to recognize family members, friends and caregivers—appears to result from the breakdown of tiny protective structures called perineuronal nets that surround brain cells. These net-like structures help stabilize connections between neurons, allowing memories of familiar faces and relationships to remain intact.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, those protective nets begin to deteriorate. The researchers believe that once they weaken, the brain has increasing difficulty preserving memories tied to the people who matter most.
Laboratory mice provide clues
In laboratory mice with Alzheimer’s disease, scientists prevented the breakdown of these protective nets using drugs known as MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) inhibitors. The treated mice continued to recognize other mice they had previously encountered, even while the disease continued to damage other areas of the brain. The results suggest it may be possible to preserve social memory even if other symptoms of Alzheimer’s continue to develop.
The findings are important because they identify a potential treatment target beyond the amyloid plaques that have dominated Alzheimer’s research for decades. Researchers found the protective nets deteriorated even without changes in amyloid, suggesting that other biological processes may play a larger role in memory loss than previously understood.
If future studies confirm the findings in people, therapies aimed at protecting these structures could help patients continue recognizing the people closest to them, even if the disease cannot yet be cured. That could ease one of the greatest emotional burdens faced by both patients and their families.
Researchers caution that the work is still in its early stages. The results have been demonstrated only in mice, and years of additional research and clinical trials will be needed before any treatment could become available for people.
More than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number expected to rise as populations age. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and currently has no cure, although newer treatments can slow its progression in some patients. The findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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