Alzheimer's disease is best known for its effects on memory and thinking, but new research suggests that some symptoms may develop in a surprising place: outside the brain.
Scientists at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have discovered that genetic mutations associated with Alzheimer's can interfere with the nerves that control muscle movement, even without involvement from the brain or spinal cord. The findings could help explain why some people with Alzheimer's experience changes in walking, balance, or coordination long before noticeable memory problems emerge.
The discovery raises the possibility that movement difficulties could provide earlier warning signs of the disease and that treatments focused exclusively on the brain may overlook important problems elsewhere in the body.
The research was led by James Hickman, a professor at UCF's Nanoscience Technology Center, and Research Professor Xiufang "Nadine" Guo, working alongside scientists at the healthcare technology company Hesperos. Funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging, the study used laboratory systems built from human cells to investigate how inherited Alzheimer's mutations affect movement. The findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
Source: ScienceDaily - Psychology — Read the full article on the original site ↗