Infection Defense May Spur Alzheimer’s

In the article “Infection Defense May Spur Alzheimer’s” explained the possibilities of a natural protein, beta amyloid or A-beta, causing Alzheimer by overproducing. This causes plaque on the brain that destroys signals between the nerves in the body with the brain. The hypothesis for this was started by Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, a researcher at Harvard Medical School. He states that the innate immune system, a set of proteins that protect the brain since blood cannot got through to the brain, so antibodies cannot reach the brain in case of an infection, are overproduced are cause it to stick on the brain and destroys signals from the brain. Scientists first saw A-beta after comparing it to LL-37, a protein that is part of the innate immune system. Both proteins can destroy the same bacteria types and microbes. What Dr. Tanzi believes is causing the overproduction of A-beta is that the brain is overreacting to the infection on brain and is producing too much of the protein, which later turns into small, clumpy molds on the brain. With this new evidence, Dr. Tanzi is looking for evidence on how to cure Alzheimer’s if A-beta is truly the protein causing it. One idea was to remove the plaque from the brain, but the next step is to fix the nerves that were broken, but with this new data many other scientists can now go on to try to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
This article is important because it shows that sometimes the diseases, like Alzheimer’s, is cause not by foreign invaders or viruses, but by proteins that our body creates to protect the brain from infections. This is important because Alzheimer’s is a very serious disease in which people start to forget everything from their lives, and makes them have a harder life since they do not remember important information. A cure to Alzheimer’s can save many lives and help the elderly by allowing them to remember information that they need in their lives. The discovery of A-beta and how it is part of the innate immune system tells scientists what to take as the next step, which is to control the brain on the production of this protein. Many people can be saved from getting Alzheimer’s and can lead normal lives when they are elderly.
The article states well on why A-beta and other proteins in the brain are important to figuring out why Alzheimer’s is caused in the brain. Also, the article explains well on how A-beta is very similar to other proteins and how it might cause Alzheimer’s. The article could have expanded more on how the nerves were broken after the plaque builds up on it, and also explain on why only removing the plaque will not cure the disease. This article is very important by trying to piece together the mystery on why Alzheimer’s is cause and how it should be treated. Hopefully in the near future more data is being discovered and Alzheimer’s will be completely cured.
Kolata, Gina. “Infection Defense May Spur Alzheimer’s.” New York Times 8 Mar. 2010: n. pag. Web. 8 Mar. 2010. .