Health
New Alzheimer’s research reveals ‘quiet’ phase of the disease, before symptoms appear
New details have emerged about how Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain.
Researchers led by the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and University of Washington Medicine have identified cellular changes in the brains of people with the disease — and a timeline of when they occur.
“Instead of looking at AD just through the usual lens of plaques and tangles, we focused on how specific cell types were changed in each phase,” study author Dr. Kyle Travaglini, Ph.D., a scientist at Allen Institute, told Fox News Digital via email.
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“We identified two main phases in AD by arranging donors along a continuous disease trajectory — a slow, early phase with low levels of pathology and no cognitive decline, followed by a later phase where there’s a huge buildup of pathology and cognitive decline.”
Researchers examine donated brain tissue samples through a microscope in a lab at the Allen Institute. (Allen Institute for Brain Science)
The study, which was published this week in Nature Neuroscience, examined millions of cells from the donated brain tissue of 84 deceased Alzheimer’s patients.
The donors ranged from mild cases with no symptoms to advanced dementia cases.
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“By studying research subjects across the spectrum of AD, including those in the earliest stages of disease, we hope to identify vulnerable cells early in the disease process, long before a person develops symptoms,” C. Dirk Keene, professor of neuropathology at UW Medicine, said in a press release.
Researchers focused on the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) — the part of the brain that controls language, memory and vision.
That portion of the brain is known as a “critical transition zone,” where evidence of Alzheimer’s appears and then worsens as the disease progresses.
A scientist creates a sample in the lab at the Allen Institute. (Allen Institute for Brain Science)
Using machine learning technology, researchers compared the cells, genes and DNA of the Alzheimer’s brain samples to maps of the normal brain generated by the Allen Institute.
“With these tools, scientists were able to detect the earliest cellular changes to the brain to create a more complete picture of what happens over the entire course of the disease,” John Ngai, Ph.D., director of The BRAIN Initiative, said in the release.
“We created a pathology clock that tells not only what changes are happening in this cortical region, but when.”
“The new knowledge provided by this study may help scientists and drug developers around the world develop diagnostics and treatments targeted to specific stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” he added.
Creating a disease timeline
The study identified “two distinct phases” of Alzheimer’s disease.
“You could say we created a pathology clock that tells not only what changes are happening in this cortical region, but when,” said Mariano Gabitto, Ph.D., a lead author and assistant investigator at the Allen Institute, in the release.
Researchers study images of brain tissue to determine Alzheimer’s-related cellular changes. (Allen Institute for Brain Science)
First, there was a “slow, early buildup of abnormal cellular changes,” the researchers noted.
During this period, the patient may not experience any symptoms of memory loss or cognitive decline.
In that first phase, the researchers were surprised to discover the loss of certain inhibitory neurons that were not previously linked to Alzheimer’s.
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Travaglini described that as a “critical discovery,” as those neurons act as “brakes” for brain activity and “keep things balanced.”
“This specificity gives us new clues about how and why certain brain circuits could break down in AD,” he said.
Researchers analyze brain tissue samples in a lab at the Allen Institute. (Allen Institute for Brain Science)
Richard J. Hodes, MD, director of the NIH National Institute on Aging, noted that one of the challenges in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s is that much of the damage to the brain happens in this early phase, before symptoms occur.
“The ability to detect these early changes means that, for the first time, we can see what is happening to a person’s brain during the earliest periods of the disease,” he said in the release.
“For the first time, we can see what is happening to a person’s brain during the earliest periods of the disease.”
The second phase was marked by a “much more extensive loss” of different types of neurons and cells, leading to the accumulation of the hallmark “plaques and tangles” in the brain — which is typically when patients begin to notice cognitive decline.
The bigger picture
Igor Camargo Fontana, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association director of scientific conference programming in Chicago, was not involved in the study but shared what he described as the “bigger picture” it revealed.
“Instead of looking at AD just through the usual lens of plaques and tangles, we focused on how specific cell types were changed in each phase,” a researcher said. (iStock)
“Alzheimer’s disease has a long pre-symptomatic period; Alzheimer’s-related changes take place in the brain 10, 15 or even 20 years before the onset of memory and thinking symptoms,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“If the findings in this new paper are confirmed by other labs, it raises the question of whether effectively addressing the brain changes that happen in what the authors call the first ‘quiet’ phase can slow, delay or prevent the second, more destructive phase.”
The hope is that this new timeline of how the disease affects the brain will help guide the development of new treatments. (iStock)
Looking ahead, Fontana says it will be important to further investigate the “quiet” phase to confirm how it’s linked to the better-known biomarkers of Alzheimer’s, such as amyloid and tau.
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The hope is that this new timeline of how the disease affects the brain will help guide the development of new treatments, according to researchers.
The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the NIH BRAIN Initiative.
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A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway.
This discovery appears to explain how GLP-1 drugs — which mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite — protect heart tissue from a condition known as “no-reflow.”
“In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny blood vessels within the heart muscle remain narrowed, even after the main artery is cleared during emergency medical treatment,” Dr. Svetlana Mastitskaya, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer at Bristol Medical School, said in a press release.
“This results in a complication known as ‘no-reflow,’ where blood is unable to reach certain parts of the heart tissue.”
In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny capillaries (blood vessels) remain narrowed even after the main blocked artery is cleared. (iStock)
This lack of blood flow increases the risk of heart failure and death within a year. GLP-1 medications could prevent this, according to the researchers.
How it works
When the GLP-1 hormone is released in the gut or administered as a drug, it sends a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the heart that switches on special potassium channels in tiny cells called pericytes.
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When these channels open, the pericytes relax, which allows the small blood vessels (capillaries) to widen and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers noted.
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The new study used animal models and cellular imaging to track how GLP-1 interacts with heart tissue. When the researchers removed the potassium channels, the drugs no longer protected the heart — confirming they play a key role.
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments. (iStock)
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments during or immediately after a heart attack to reduce tissue damage.
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The researchers noted several limitations, including that the study relied on animal models.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine whether the brain-gut-heart pathway operates with the same timing and efficacy in humans.
While the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it des not establish whether long-term use of these drugs provides a pre-existing level of protection. (iStock)
Additionally, while the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it does not establish whether long-term use of the medication provides a pre-existing level of protection.
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The research was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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