Articles tagged with Amyloidosis
The ALARIC trial aims to treat at least 12 patients with light chain amyloidosis, a rare but serious blood disease affecting around 500 people in the UK each year. CAR T-cell therapy targets abnormal plasma cells producing faulty proteins, offering a one-off treatment with high and durable response rates.
Researchers found three distinct trajectories of cognitive decline: stable, slow and fast decline. Biomarker data showed that participants who declined faster had higher P-tau217 levels and smaller hippocampi.
Researchers at USC identified differences in early Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes across racial and ethnic groups, with Black and Hispanic participants showing higher levels of tau in key memory-related regions. The study highlights the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found elevated pTau levels in individuals with transthyretin amyloidosis and immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, suggesting a new diagnostic approach for systemic amyloidosis. The findings may facilitate earlier detection and help confirm suspected cases.
A positive feedback loop between UBE2V1 and HIF-1α drives HCC progression by facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. UBE2V1 promotes HCC progression by competing with HIF-1α for VHL protein binding, leading to sustained HIF-1α stabilization.
A research team at Kumamoto University identified a plant-derived molecule, PGG, that breaks down transthyretin (TTR) amyloid linked to heart and nerve disorders. The study found PGG effectively disassembled amyloid fibrils without disrupting other types of protein aggregates.
Researchers review the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy in breast cancer, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. The study suggests that strategic modulation of mitophagy can enhance personalized treatment approaches for BC.
Rice University scientists create a detailed map of the Alzheimer's brain using hyperspectral Raman imaging and machine learning. The findings show that chemical changes are unevenly distributed across the brain and extend beyond amyloid plaques, revealing broader metabolic differences between healthy and diseased brains.
The American Society of Hematology released guidelines on the diagnosis of light chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare and life-threatening disease of the bone marrow. The guidelines outline best practices for diagnosing the disorder, which typically takes about three years to diagnose.
Multiple Sylvester physicians presented their research on various hematological cancers, including lymphoma and myeloma. The studies showcased promising results for treatments such as CAR-T therapy and immunotherapy combinations.
Recent advances in systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis diagnosis and treatment highlight the integration of novel biomarkers, imaging modalities, and targeted therapies. Key findings include improved hematologic and organ responses with daratumumab-based regimens and emerging therapies like BCMA-targeting bispecific antibodies.
Researchers developed a fiber-optic method to track Alzheimer's plaques in freely behaving mice, allowing for real-time monitoring and long-term tracking of pathological changes. The technique uses fluorescent dye to bind specifically to amyloid fibrils and provides a minimally invasive way to study disease progression.
Researchers developed an mRNA vaccine that suppresses abnormal blood vessel growth in mouse models of age-related macular degeneration. The vaccine is as effective as current therapies and offers a convenient alternative to frequent eye injections.
Transthyretin amyloidosis has transitioned from a fatal underdiagnosed disease to one with multiple effective treatment avenues, including gene editing and targeted therapies that have shown significant improvements in neuropathy scores and quality of life. Ongoing clinical trials aim to halt and potentially reverse disease progression.
A new brain imaging benchmark may improve how researchers classify biologically meaningful changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found a tau cut-point that distinguished individuals with cognitive impairment from those aging normally, but its effectiveness was limited in non-Hispanic Black participants.
A space-based experiment successfully analyzed Tottori-type amyloid β fibrils in microgravity, uncovering new insights into Alzheimer's disease mechanisms. The study found that microgravity suppresses off-pathway aggregates, enabling the formation of well-ordered fibrils suitable for structural analysis.
Researchers created a comprehensive map of how individual mutations alter the energy landscape of amyloid beta aggregation, a process central to Alzheimer's disease. They found that preventing interactions in the C-terminal region could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.
The annual Alzheimer's disease drug development pipeline report, led by Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, highlights an increase in active clinical trials and promising drugs, offering reason for optimism. The report assesses 138 drugs currently being studied and notes the growing importance of biomarkers in clinical trials.
Researchers from USC Keck School of Medicine have developed a low-cost blood test that detects five biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid and tau proteins. The test uses xMAP technology and has the potential to catch the disease in its earliest stages, when treatment might be able to prevent or delay cognitive decline.
A new stem cell therapy trial at UTHealth Houston aims to reduce neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The study, which is sponsored by Weston Brain Institute, will enroll 12 patients and use PET imaging to determine whether stem cells reduce brain inflammation before symptoms develop.
The Primary Prevention Trial aims to determine whether stopping early molecular changes can prevent Alzheimer's disease from taking hold. The study will enroll people as young as 18 with few or no detectable Alzheimer's-related molecular changes in their brains.
A new research project will test a combination of two targeted therapies, teclistamab and daratumumab, to treat AL amyloidosis, a rare disease affecting approximately 4,500 people annually in the U.S. The study aims to leverage previous findings from multiple myeloma to expand understanding of this treatment option.
UTHealth Houston researchers are exploring new pathways to treat Alzheimer's disease through multiple projects funded by the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium. Studies aim to investigate ACSL4 gene, delirium's impact on disease progression, biological aging, and noninvasive diagnosis methods.
A new study found that one in 1,000 people in the UK carry genetic variants linked to cardiac amyloidosis, a potentially fatal heart condition. The study also revealed higher incidence rates among individuals with African ancestry, highlighting the need for early detection and monitoring.
A team led by Emory researchers found strong evidence supporting a new understanding of the mechanism behind Alzheimer's disease. They identified more than 20 proteins that co-accumulate with amyloid beta, suggesting they may play an important role in brain damage rather than the amyloid itself.
Glial cells play a significant role in Alzheimer's disease, producing amyloid beta and contributing to plaque formation. Researchers discovered that knocking out BACE1 enzyme in oligodendrocytes reduced plaque formation by 30%, opening up new avenues for therapies.
Researchers developed a method to study aged neurons in the lab without a brain biopsy, accurately reproducing the hallmarks of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study identified aspects of cells' genomes that contribute to the development of the disease and found potential treatment strategies targeting these factors.
Researchers have discovered an antibody fragment that can bind to abnormal light chains, stabilizing them and preventing their aggregation. This finding has the potential to provide a much-needed treatment for individuals with light chain amyloidosis, which currently has a poor prognosis.
Researchers found that men with a higher proportion of blood cells missing the Y chromosome have a higher risk of dying from heart failure. Elevated Y chromosome loss is associated with decreased treatment response in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, a progressive disease causing heart failure and death.
Researchers have made substantial progress in understanding AL amyloidosis, a rare disease that causes progressive organ dysfunction and death, by identifying key determinants of survival such as cardiac involvement and developing new therapies targeting clonal plasma cells and antifibril monoclonal antibodies.
Researchers developed a novel radiotracer that generates high-quality images of cardiac amyloidosis, a condition referred to as the Alzheimer's disease of the heart. The technetium-99m labeled variant of the pan-amyloid reactive peptide p5+14 showed significant uptake in patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy.
Researchers propose that amyloid deposits modulate calcific aortic valve disease and accelerate degenerative calcification. The study suggests blocking amyloid formation may be a novel therapeutic target for CAVD and other diseases involving degenerative calcification.
Researchers found a significant association between carpal tunnel syndrome and the risk of developing heart failure and amyloidosis. Individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome were at a 13% higher risk of heart failure and a threefold higher risk of amyloidosis compared to those without the condition.
Research suggests that oxidative stress (OS) may trigger Alzheimer's disease and that enriching brain glutathione (GSH) could be a way forward. Clinical studies indicate GSH depletion in the hippocampus initiates early onset of AD prior to amyloid beta deposition and tau phosphorylation.
Researchers discovered a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease also prevents Type 2 diabetes by blocking the formation of toxic IAPP clusters. A synthetic peptide was shown to bind and neutralize these clusters, keeping beta cells alive.
A study by Dr. Yamamoto et al. discovered 200 types of proteins, including β2-m, adsorbed onto blood purification devices in dialysis patients. These proteins, such as lysozyme, are involved in amyloid fibril formation and may contribute to the disease progression.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have developed a new drug delivery platform that harnesses helical amyloid fibers designed to untwist and release drugs in response to body temperatures. This discovery could be useful in treatment to reverse Alzheimer’s Disease impact by degrading amyloid plaques.
Researchers have identified five cases of Alzheimer's disease acquired through exposure to contaminated cadaver-derived human growth hormone (c-hGH) used in medical treatment between 1959 and 1985. Biomarker analyses and autopsy results confirmed the diagnoses, highlighting a rare but significant risk of transmission via this route.
A recent meta-analysis of 20,000 patients with Alzheimer's disease found no clinically significant improvement in cognitive or functional abilities from monoclonal antibody treatment. The studies also revealed a high risk of serious harms, including cerebral edema and death, associated with the use of these expensive medications.
Zarbio and Georgia State University scientists propose a framework for understanding Alzheimer's disease, linking molecular mechanisms, beta-amyloid biomarkers, and diagnosis. The Amyloid Degradation Toxicity Hypothesis resolves long-standing paradoxes in AD research.
The study reveals that apoE-amyloid interactions depend on the exact amyloid structure, termed polymorph. The researchers used four different structures of Aβ fibrils from brains of patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases to build models of apoE in complexes with different fibrils.
A new blood-based test called p-tau217 has shown great promise in identifying Alzheimer's disease by stratifying patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups. The two-step workflow reduces the need for confirmatory testing in uncertain cases.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a nanoscale optical technique to monitor protein aggregates forming in cells, which can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and ALS. The study provides a new window into the transition of proteins from liquid to solid phase.
A new study by Boston University researchers found that Serum Amyloid A (SAA) acts as a universal protein detergent to clear cell membrane debris from wounds and inflammation sites. However, high levels of SAA can also promote fibrous deposits in vital organs like the kidney and liver, leading to life-threatening disease AA amyloidosis.
Researchers found a high incidence of systemic amyloidosis in Japanese squirrels, characterized by severe glomerular amyloid deposition. The study suggests that fibrinogen Aα-chain is a precursor protein and the amino acid sequence plays a crucial role in maintaining protein stability.
Early improvements in cardiac and hematologic parameters predict better survival outcomes for patients treated for stage IIIb AL amyloidosis. Treatment regimens can be tailored to achieve optimal outcomes by understanding early responses to treatment.
A new multi-center study found that having a genetic variant in the prealbumin gene alone is not sufficient for diagnosing transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in older Black patients. Researchers suggest that a blood test measuring prealbumin levels may be useful in identifying patients at risk of developing cardiac amyloidosis.
Researchers from Sahmyook University found that phyllodulcin, a natural sweetener found in hydrangeas, can efficiently inhibit amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and dissociate its aggregates in an animal model study. The study suggests that phyllodulcin may be useful in delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have developed a new PET model to quantify cardiac amyloidosis, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and monitoring. The study found that a two-tissue reversible compartment model is the best method for quantifying 18F-flutemetamol myocardial uptake.
Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have uncovered the structure of the first step in amyloid formation for Huntington's disease. The team proposes a new method for treating not only Huntington's but potentially dozens of other amyloid-associated diseases by preventing the initial, rate-limiting step from occurring.
A groundbreaking study has shown that a devastating heart condition can spontaneously reverse in three men, who are now free of symptoms. The condition, transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, is progressive and previously considered irreversible.
Defective myelin promotes disease-related changes in Alzheimer's by accelerating amyloid plaque deposition and overwhelming immune cells. Slowing down age-related myelin damage could lead to new therapies and prevent or slow down the disease.
Researchers review current treatment updates for systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and effective maintenance therapy. The article discusses the relationship between AL amyloidosis and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), emphasizing the importance of regular monitoring.
Researchers developed a calculator to identify patients with multiple myeloma and primary systemic amyloidosis who have a more benign profile, allowing for personalized treatment. The tool predicts survival based on clinical-biological characteristics and has been validated in international series.
Researchers at Temple University Health System found that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce inflammation, restore cell function and prevent cognitive impairment in mice with amyloid buildup. CAIs also improved cerebrovascular health and enhanced amyloid-clearing capacity.
Research by Whitehead et al. reveals that cellular senescence triggers amyloidosis through changes in small extracellular vesicles and extracellular matrix composition. The study provides novel insights into the formation of aortic medial amyloid and offers potential therapeutic targets for mitigating its effects.
Researchers found that platelet depletion increased amyloid plaque size and neuronal damage in APP-PS1 mice. However, platelets may have a beneficial role in limiting plaque growth and attenuating neuritic dystrophy at advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identified an alternative binding site on amyloid-beta aggregates using time-resolved spectroscopy and computational chemistry. This discovery could lead to the development of new therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other conditions associated with amyloid deposits.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology discovered a novel amyloid protein, α-S1 casein, which can cause disease in humans. The study found that overexpression and N-terminal truncation of α-S1-casein led to its formation as an amyloid protein.
A team of researchers led by Adrian Oblak and Peter Bor-Chian Lin studied the INPP5D gene, which is associated with microglia-specific immune cells. They found that reducing its expression can mitigate Alzheimer's disease pathology, preserving cognitive function in lab models.