MU researchers look into cause of Alzheimer's

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Researchers led by a University of Missouri-Columbia scientist have begun new studies aimed at revealing the causes of Alzheimer's disease.

"People like me who are getting older, we are very conscious about how to retard this from happening," said University of Missouri-Columbia biochemist Grace Sun, who leads the study. "So if this doesn't happen until you are 90, or if the progress is decreased by a certain percentage, everything we can do is helpful."

Much of the research focuses on the effects of the protein A-beta. While A-beta is present in everyone's brain, the protein is present in greater quantity and is more active in people with Alzheimer's.

Sun's group is studying the link between A-beta and the enzyme phospholipases. Some research shows A-beta can activate phospholipases, which can damage cell membranes in the brain.

"What happens is, when the A-beta comes out of cells it can accumulate, and they become bad, and they can hurt the neurons, and the neurons can become less functional and the synapses are impaired," Sun said.

In another study, Missouri biochemistry professor Gary Weisman and his group of researchers will focus on how A-beta can contribute to Alzheimer's-related brain inflammation. Weisman is particularly interested in how the A-beta interacts with certain receptors on brain cells.

"We don't believe that nature put this receptor in there to kill us, nor did it give us an immune system to kill us," Weisman said. "But in fact, that's exactly what happens. Our immune system winds up attacking us in the end."

Gibson Wood, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Minnesota, is leading another part of the study centered on cholesterol in the brain. The researchers were recently awarded a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue their work for five years. They had just completed five years of work under a previous $5 million grant from the health institutes.