Study finds more information on traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's linkRSS Feed

New information about the connection between traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's has been discovered by an American study.

Research published in the PLoS One journal has highlighted the role of the amyloid-beta (A-beta) protein in the process.

This is one of the main constituents in the plaques found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's and the study has found that traumatic brain injury could have a role in creating this protein.

Dr Rudolph Tanzi, co-senior author and director of the Genetics and Aging Unit at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, suggested that A-beta could be part of the brain's innate immune system.

He stated: "It looks like factors that trigger hyperactivity of the innate immune system - not only infection but also traumatic brain injury and stroke, which are already known to increase the risk for Alzheimer's - could cause excessive deposition of A-beta."

Last month, patients at the UC Davis Medical Center trauma centre took part in a new $8 million (£5 million) grant-funded research programme into neuroprotective drug allopregnanolone.

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