Diseases such as Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are thought to occur with the abnormal buildup of proteins in neurons.
However, according to the study published in the journal eLife, the reason behind this accumulation remains unknown.
The team, led by Kanae Ando, associate professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, focused on the presence of mitochondria in axons, lone tendril-like appendages that extend out from neurons and form essential connections that allow signals to transmit inside our brains. Are.
It is known that the levels of mitochondria in axons can decline with age, during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
The team used fruit flies to show that the lack of mitochondria in axons directly leads to protein accumulation.
At the same time, significantly higher amounts of a specific protein were found, normalizing the levels of which improved protein recycling.
Tsai researchers say such findings hold promise for new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
"As the population ages and the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions continues to increase, the team's findings offer an important step in developing treatments to combat these serious diseases," the study said.
However, according to the study published in the journal eLife, the reason behind this accumulation remains unknown.
The team, led by Kanae Ando, associate professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, focused on the presence of mitochondria in axons, lone tendril-like appendages that extend out from neurons and form essential connections that allow signals to transmit inside our brains. Are.
It is known that the levels of mitochondria in axons can decline with age, during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
The team used fruit flies to show that the lack of mitochondria in axons directly leads to protein accumulation.
At the same time, significantly higher amounts of a specific protein were found, normalizing the levels of which improved protein recycling.
Tsai researchers say such findings hold promise for new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
"As the population ages and the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions continues to increase, the team's findings offer an important step in developing treatments to combat these serious diseases," the study said.
