With the term dementia it indicates a progressive decay of various brain functions, including reasoning, memory, language and orientation. This condition, which in most cases derives from degenerative brain diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease), is increasingly widespread around the world and is currently incurable. New York University researchers, led by Professor Shane Liddelow, believe that certain brain cells, astrociti, whose job is to eliminate the toxic particles that accumulate in the brain and to nourish the neurons. The studio was published in the journal “Nature”.
It has long been known that neuronal deterioration is at the root of dementia. According to scientists, astrocytes release acids fat toxic that are capable of killing neurons. To reach this conclusion, the team genetically modified some mice with brain lesions in order to stop the production of long-chain saturated fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine. They were then compared with a control group. In engineered rodents, 75% of neurons survived, which dropped to 10% in normal animals.
Although the results confirm the thesis advanced by scholars, it is not clear why astrocytes produce le toxins. The most plausible hypothesis is that such cells destroy damaged neurons before they destroy their neighbors. In a previous analysis, Liddelow had demonstrated the presence of astrocytes in several neurodegenerative diseases associated with dementia: Parkinson, Alzheimer, Huntington’s chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.
Regarding the latest research, Liddelow states: “Our results show that toxic fatty acids produced by astrocytes play a vital role in brain cell death. They also provide a promising new target for the treatment, and perhaps also for the prevention, of many neurodegenerative diseases».