Study Investigates Role of Specific Autoantibodies in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

New research from scientists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM), Stratford, N.J., shows how dying or damaged brain cells release debris into the bloodstream, giving rise to specific autoantibodies that appear to be reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The researchers also have found a key mechanism in the development of Alzheimer’s that mirrors a process common in autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Study results appear online in the Journal of Autoimmunity.

“Our earlier research showed that human blood contains perhaps thousands of autoantibodies for clearing cellular debris, and that some of these autoantibodies can potentially be used to accurately diagnose neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” says Robert Nagele, PhD, a professor of medicine at UMDNJ-SOM and the study’s corresponding author. “Here, we found that the release of damaged proteins from dying neurons triggers the production of specific brain-reactive autoantibodies that are directed against this protein debris, a response similar to that seen in some autoimmune disorders.” For more information, click here to read the full article.