[헬스코리아뉴스 / 서정필] Research shows that even in healthy people without cognitive problems, cortical excitability increases when misfolded tau proteins begin to accumulate in the brainstem (the stem connecting the cerebral and spinal cord).
Cortical excitability is a typical feature of early Alzheimer’s disease patients. When the cerebral cortex is excited, it has been known to promote various neural network disorders by creating a brain condition that excites even a small stimulus.
The research team at the GIGA CRC In Vivo Imaging Laboratory at the University of Liege in Belgium targeted 64 adults (45 women, 19 men) aged 50 to 69 who do not have cognitive function problems. Beta amyloid-β accumulation and cortical excitability were investigated. Until the time of the investigation, none of the subjects had any cognitive problems.
The research team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron electron tomography (PET) to screen out the patients who first started to accumulate tau protein and beta amyloid in the brainstem among 64 patients, and then used an electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement to determine the correlation between cerebral excitability Investigate the relationship.
As a result, a high level of cortical excitability was observed in common among those who observed the initial aggregation of tau protein. On the other hand, in the case of beta amyloid, there was no significant correlation with cortical excitability.
The research team said, “When analyzing the time when tau protein is accumulated and the time when the cerebral cortex starts to excite, there seems to be no significant time difference between the two.” This means that the accumulation of tau protein and the excitement of the cerebral cortex occur at the same time, which is likely to be an important clue to diagnose early Alzheimer’s.
“Through previous studies, it has been widely known that the accumulation of tau protein and beta amyloid causes Alzheimer’s disease, but this is the first study to reveal changes in brain function at the point when tau or beta amyloid starts to accumulate.” In this study, the correlation between the first tau protein accumulation in the brainstem and the degree of cortical excitement through a non-invasive method is expected to be of great help in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in the future.”
“In middle-aged people, measuring the excitability of the cerebral cortex can be the main basis for predicting the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in the future.” It is highly likely that it is the point of accumulation, so a preemptive inspection is important.”
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