Catching Calcium Waves Could Provide Insights into Alzheimer's Disease

Astrocytes are abundant throughout the brainmaking up about half of its total volume. The fact that amyloid beta peptides are able to induce calcium waves in astrocyte networks is a new and potentially important finding in the search for a treatment or cure for Alzheimer's disease....

By Bob DeMarco


Calcium waves could be relevant for understanding the origin of Alzheimer’s disease. The accumulation of Amyloid beta fragments and sustained disruption of the calcium balance within cells are leading hypotheses for what causes Alzheimer’s disease.

This research could help clarify what causes Alzheimer’s disease and could suggest new drug targets to either slow down or reverse the widespread neuronal death associated with Alzheimer’s disease