Researchers have found that two proteins which work in tandem in
the brain’s blood vessels present a double whammy in Alzheimer’s
disease. Not only do the proteins lessen blood flow in the
brain, but they also reduce the rate at which the brain is able
to remove amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in toxic
quantities in the brains of patients with the disease. The work,
described in the journal Nature Cell Biology, provides hard
evidence directly linking two processes thought to be at play in
Alzheimer’s disease: reduction in blood flow and the buildup of
toxic amyloid beta. The research makes the interaction between
the two proteins a seductive target for researchers seeking to
address both issues. Scientists were surprised at the finding,
which puts two proteins known for their role in the
cardiovascular system front and center in the development of
Alzheimer’s disease. “This is quite unexpected,” said Berislav
Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist and a senior author of
the study. “On the other hand