Logo Carenity
Logo Carenity
Join now! Log in
flag en
flag fr flag es flag de flag it flag us
Home

Forums

Latest discussions
General discussions
See all - Forum index from A to Z

Conditions

Fact sheets
See all - Disease index from A to Z

Magazine

Our featured pieces
News
Testimonials
Nutrition
Advice
Procedures & paperwork

Medications

Medications fact sheet
See all - Medication index from A to Z

Surveys

Ongoing surveys
The results of the surveys

Join now! Log in
  • Forums

    • Latest discussions
    • General discussions
    • See all - Forum index from A to Z
  • Conditions

    • Fact sheets
    • See all - Disease index from A to Z
  • Magazine

    • Our featured pieces
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Nutrition
    • Advice
    • Procedures & paperwork
  • Medications

    • Medications fact sheet
    • See all - Medication index from A to Z
  • Surveys

    • Ongoing surveys
    • The results of the surveys
  • Home
  • Forums
  • General forums
  • Treatments for Alzheimer's disease
  • Removing 'zombie' cells deters Alzheimer's in mice
 Back
Treatments for Alzheimer's disease

Removing 'zombie' cells deters Alzheimer's in mice

  •  9 views
  •  2 times supported
  •  2 comments

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

Community manager
20/09/2018 at 14:41

Good advisor

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

Community manager

Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

Joined in 2018


989 comments posted | 8 in the Treatments for Alzheimer's disease group

6 of their responses were helpful to members


Rewards

  • Good Advisor

  • Contributor

  • Committed

  • Explorer

  • Evaluator

  • Friend


 View profileView  Add a friendAdd  Write

Eliminating dead-but-toxic cells occurring naturally in the brains of mice designed to mimic Alzheimer's slowed neuron damage and memory loss associated with the disease, according to a study published Wednesday that could open a new front in the fight against dementia.

mouse

The accumulation in the body of "zombie cells" that can no longer divide but still cause harm to other healthy cells, a process called senescence, is common to all mammals.

Scientists have long known that these dead-beat cells gather in regions of the brain linked to old age diseases ranging from osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis to Parkinson's and dementia.

Prior research had also shown that the elimination of senescent cells in ageing mice extended their healthy lifespan. But the new results, published in Nature, are the first to demonstrate a cause-and-effect link with a specific disease, Alzheimer's, the scientists said.

But any treatments that might emerge from the research are many years down the road, they cautioned. In experiments, a team led by Tyler Bussian of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota used mice genetically modified to produce the destructive, cobweb-like tangles of tau protein that form in the neurons of Alzheimer's patients.

The mice were also programmed to allow for the elimination of "zombie" cells in the same region.

"When senescent cells were removed, we found that the diseased animals retained the ability to form memories, and eliminated signs of inflammation," said senior author Darren Baker, also from the Mayo Clinic. The mice likewise failed to develop Alzheimer's signature protein "tangles", and retained normal brain mass.

    Keeping zombies at bay 

A closer look revealed that the "zombies" belonged to a class of cells in the brain and spinal cord, called glia, that provide crucial support and insulation to neurons.

"Preventing the build-up of senescent glia can block the cognitive decline and neuro-degeneration normally experienced by these mice," Jay Penney and Li-Huei Tsai, both from MIT, wrote in a comment, also in Nature.

Bussian and his team duplicated the results with pharmaceuticals, suggesting that drugs could one day slow or block the emergence of Alzheimer's by keeping these zombie cells at bay.

"There hasn't been a new dementia drug in 15 years, so it's exciting to see the results of this promising study in mice," said James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society in London. 

For Lawrence Rajendran, deputy director of the Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, the findings "open up new vistas for both diagnosis and therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's."

Up to now, dementia research has been mostly focused on the diseased neurons rather than their neighbouring cells. "It is increasingly becoming clear that other brains cells play a defining role," Rajendran added.

Several barriers remain before the breakthrough can be translated into a "safe, effective treatment in people," Pickett and other said. 

The elderly often have lots of harmless brain cells that look like the dangerous senescent cells a drug would target, so the molecule would have to be good at telling the two apart.   

Worldwide, about seven percent of people over 65 suffer from Alzheimer's or some form of dementia, a percentage that rises to 40 percent above the age of 85.The number afflicted is expected to triple by 2050 to 152 million, according to the World Health Organization, posing a huge challenge to healthcare systems

What do you think about these exciting findings for Alzheimer's? 


AFP
Follow

Other groups...

All things Christmas
Carenity News
Feedback for Carenity
Fun and games
Good to know
How to use Carenity
Let's talk about COVID-19
Life beyond illness
News from the media
Procedures and Paperwork
Youth patients with chronic conditions

Give your opinion

Survey

What do you think about the Carenity Forum and community?

Survey

How do you use Carenity? Share your experience!

All comments

avatar lesmal

lesmal

Ambassador
22/09/2018 at 16:09

Good advisor

avatar lesmal

lesmal

Ambassador

Last activity on 29/06/2025 at 11:24

Joined in 2018


1,488 comments posted | 2 in the Treatments for Alzheimer's disease group

73 of their responses were helpful to members


Rewards

  • Good Advisor

  • Contributor

  • Messenger

  • Committed

  • Explorer

  • Evaluator


 View profileView  Add a friendAdd  Write

I am grateful for research and science to find out more on medical problems, but I get so upset when animals, i.e. mice etc. are used as 'guinea pigs'! 

It reminds me of the days during my diagnosis of epilepsy, when often patients are also used as 'guinea pigs' to try all different types of medication! 

 

See the signature

Les


Removing 'zombie' cells deters Alzheimer's in mice https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/treatments-for-alzheimers-disease/removing-zombie-cells-deters-alzheimers-in-mice-2562 2018-09-22 16:09:28

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

Community manager
24/09/2018 at 15:19

Good advisor

avatar JosephineO

JosephineO

Community manager

Last activity on 15/07/2024 at 09:21

Joined in 2018


989 comments posted | 8 in the Treatments for Alzheimer's disease group

6 of their responses were helpful to members


Rewards

  • Good Advisor

  • Contributor

  • Committed

  • Explorer

  • Evaluator

  • Friend


 View profileView  Add a friendAdd  Write

@lesmal Hello Lesley,

Yes, it can be upsetting to think of trial runs, a necessary evil unfortunately!

See the signature

Josephine, Community Manager


Removing 'zombie' cells deters Alzheimer's in mice https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/treatments-for-alzheimers-disease/removing-zombie-cells-deters-alzheimers-in-mice-2562 2018-09-24 15:19:36

Give your opinion

Survey

What do you think about the Carenity Forum and community?

Survey

How do you use Carenity? Share your experience!

Articles to discover...

Screens and the brain: What are the risks of overuse and how can you protect yourself?

28/06/2025 | News

Screens and the brain: What are the risks of overuse and how can you protect yourself?

Women's health: Why is medical research still falling short?

21/06/2025 | News

Women's health: Why is medical research still falling short?

Can you train your brain to feel happier, scientifically?

14/06/2025 | Advice

Can you train your brain to feel happier, scientifically?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): A way to better live with your thoughts and emotions

09/06/2025 | News

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): A way to better live with your thoughts and emotions

NHS - Get help with prescription costs

12/11/2019 | Procedures & paperwork

NHS - Get help with prescription costs

Diclofenac to become a prescription drug

21/01/2015 | News

Diclofenac to become a prescription drug

Opioids Causing Concerns, Problems for Chronic Pain Patients

14/10/2016 | News

Opioids Causing Concerns, Problems for Chronic Pain Patients

Do you have the winter blues?

21/10/2014 | News

Do you have the winter blues?

icon cross

Does this topic interest you?

Join the 500 000 patients registered on our platform, get information on your condition or on that of your family member, and discuss it with the community

Join now! Join now! Join now! Join now! Join now!

It’s free and confidential

Subscribe

You wish to be notified of new comments

 

Your subscription has been taken into account

Join now! Log in

About

  • Who are we?
  • The Carenity team
  • The Science and Ethics Committee
  • Contributors
  • Carenity in the news
  • Certifications and awards
  • Data For Good
  • Our scientific publications
  • Discover our studies
  • Editorial policy
  • Code of conduct
  • Our commitments
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Cookies management
  • Contact
  • Carenity for professionals

Quick access

  • Health magazine
  • Search a forum
  • Learn about a condition
  • See medication reviews
  • List of forums (A-Z)
  • List of condition info sheets (A-Z)
  • List of medication fact sheets (A-Z)
  • Language flag fr flag de flag es flag it flag us

The www.carenity.co.uk website does not constitute or replace professional medical advice.