A protein in the brain may hold new hope for Alzheimer’s patients, and the discovery comes from a Norwegian research team working closely with Chinese partners, University of Oslo reports.
Researchers at the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital have identified the protein REST as a key protective factor in the aging brain. Patients with Alzheimer’s were found to have significantly lower levels of REST, which is believed to shield brain cells from damage.
In experiments on mice, the team boosted levels of a molecule known as NAD⁺. The treatment increased REST activity, reduced harmful protein build-up in the brain and slowed memory decline.
The findings were published in the scientific journal Brain.
Nordic-Asian research alliance
The project was carried out in collaboration with researchers from Ji-Nan University in China, alongside partners in the UK and Norway. The cross-border cooperation strengthens the study’s scientific foundation and underlines the growing links between Nordic and Asian medical research.
According to the researchers, the discovery could pave the way for new treatment strategies targeting the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer’s rather than only its symptoms.
It may also open the door to developing REST as a future biomarker for earlier diagnosis.
