The “Lipid Invasion Model” argues that lipids entering the brain due to blood brain barrier damage is the determining cause of the Alzheimer’s Disease. The presence of excess lipids in the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients is an element of Alois Alzheimer’s 1906 research, but little has been published about this connection since.
The hypothesis, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, could impact diagnosis and treatment, and supports lifestyle changes (ie diet for cholesterol management) to reduce risk.
According to Post Doc Jonathan Rudge, invading lipids can result in brain shrinkage, and amyloid plaque and tau tangle development.
The new study follows 10 years of research and suggests that risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s Disease are the same factors that damage the blood brain barrier—advanced age, head injury, hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic sleep deprivation and stress.
Join ApplySci at MIT on September 30, 2022 for Deep Tech Health + Neurotech Boston