Scientists propose new idea to explain Alzheimer's

SAN FRANCISCO — Researchers have identified a specific blood-clotting protein that can trigger synaptic damage after leaking into the brain, according to New Atlas.
A new study published in the journal Neuron finds the protein fibrinogen can be found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and experimental lab mice.
According to New Atlas, scientists found that when fibrinogen enters the brain through blood-brain barrier leaks, it triggers inflammation that can damage neuron synapses.
The team found that fibrinogen can cause synaptic damage in the absence of any amyloid plaque build-up.
Other studies have proposed that an increasingly permeable blood-brain barrier may allow more toxic amyloid and tau proteins to enter the brain, starting the pathological process that leads to Alzheimer's. This new study could provide an alternative explanation.
While tests on animals have been conducted, the findings have yet to lead to human clinical trials.
According to the researchers, the type of synaptic damage associated with blood-brain barrier breakdowns could play a role in various neurological conditions.