Longevity & AgingBrain Protein Arc Found to Carry Alzheimer's Tau Between Neurons
Researchers at the University of Utah have identified how Alzheimer's disease spreads through the brain. A protein called Arc, which normally helps neurons communicate by packaging signals into tiny vesicles, also inadvertently carries toxic Tau proteins from diseased neurons into healthy ones. In mouse studies, removing Arc nearly eliminated Tau transfer between cells, dramatically slowing disease spread. This discovery suggests a new treatment strategy: rather than trying to eliminate Tau entirely, future therapies might block these vesicles before they reach healthy brain cells. The findings, published in Cell, open a promising new avenue for halting Alzheimer's progression at a mechanistic level.
