Blood markers reveal two separate inflammatory pathways driving Alzheimer’s disease
A new study reveals that two different inflammatory proteins in the blood signal separate types of brain damage. Both distinct pathways ultimately converge to fuel Alzheimer's-related tau tangles, brain shrinkage, and memory decline in older adults.
Alzheimer's disease is typically associated with the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles, but brain inflammation may initiate the process years before cognitive decline becomes apparent. A new study presents evidence that two distinct inflammatory proteins in the blood—YKL-40 and GFAP—signal two separate paths of brain damage that eventually result in memory problems.
The research, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, suggests that brain inflammation may serve as an early trigger in the disease rather than just a reaction to it.
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