Longevity & AgingScientists Discover Hidden Inflammation Switch Driving Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers at Scripps Research have identified a molecular switch that appears to drive the chronic brain inflammation seen in Alzheimer's disease. A protein called STING undergoes a chemical modification known as S-nitrosylation, which locks the brain's immune system in a harmful, overactive state. This damages the connections between nerve cells — a hallmark of Alzheimer's progression. When scientists blocked this chemical change in mouse models, neuroinflammation dropped and brain cell connections were preserved. Crucially, the same pathway was also active in human Alzheimer's brain samples and stem cell-derived models, strengthening the case for its relevance. The findings, published in Cell Chemical Biology, open a new therapeutic avenue targeting this specific chemical switch rather than inflammation broadly.
