What Causes Alzheimer’s? Insights into Treatments and Stem Cell Potential

Alzheimer’s is a disorder that impacts a person’s ability to behave, think and alter memory. It is a neurodegenerative disorder which leads to cell death, affects cognition and leads to the formation of β amyloid plaques, which is the characteristic feature of Alzheimer’s disease.

On an estimate, in the US, around 6 million individuals are affected with Alzheimer’s.

Causes of Alzheimer’s disease

The leading cause of Alzheimer’s is damage to neurons and neuronal function. Apart from damage to the neurons, other factors that contribute to the disease are a combination of environmental, lifestyle and sometimes genetic factors.

Additionally, the formation of plaques and tangles is the cornerstone of Alzheimer’s disease.

1. Formation of plaques: β-amyloid is a protein that clumps together and results in plaques. Plaque formation alters functions like communication between cells. Additionally, the build-up of β-amyloid protein damages neurons.
2. Tangles formation: Tau protein carries nutrients and other essential material between brain cells. However, when AD affects a person, tau protein undergoes structural and organizational changes and takes an uncharacteristic shape, leading to the formation of tangles.

The tangle formation alters the carrying capacity and damages cells

3. Age-related brain changes: Changes such as inflammation and shrinking, along with disruption of blood vessels, alter neurons, neuronal cells, and other brain cells.

Clinical presentation of Alzheimer’s disease

1. Memory:	Difficulty in remembering names, faces, family and facts
2. Reasoning:	Not able to make a choice or decision and often seems confusing.
3. Language:	Altered ability to read, write, communicate and understand language.
4. Behaviour and personality:	Changes in mood, behaviour, frustration, agitation. Moreover, personality changes.
5. Spatial understanding:	Difficulty understanding the closeness of objects and hand motions.

Alzheimer’s disease treatment strategies

The current Alzheimer’s treatment options available are

1. Medication therapy: Cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil and rivastigmine slow down the progression of the disease and improve memory and cognition. The NMDA receptor antagonist binds to glutamate and slows down the degree of damage. The therapies aim to improve symptoms of memory and cognitive abilities.
2. Symptomatic treatment: Clinicians recommend medications like antidepressants to treat anxiety and depression, anti-seizure medications to treat seizure-like activity, and antipsychotics to treat hallucinations and agitation.
3. Intravenous medications: Monoclonal antibodies like donanemab or lecanemab aid the immune system in destroying β-amyloid proteins.
4. Prevention strategies: Lifestyle modifications, such as engaging in physical activities and eating a healthy diet, can help manage AD.
5. Healthy diet: Eating a nutritious and balanced diet which improves brain health works in AD. Additionally, adapting to approaches like DASH or the Mediterranean diet also improves AD.
6. Social communication: Engaging in healthy conversations and developing communication also helps.
7. Physical activity: Moderate exercises help you stay active. Depending on the condition, engaging in light activities improves brain health.
8. Mental activeness: Participating in puzzles and other indoor games mentally activates a person. Engaging in hobbies also helps people stay mentally active.

Stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

Stem cell treatment for Alzheimer’s in India is helpful in slowing down disease progression since conventional treatment options only manage the condition and treat symptoms.

Mechanism of stem cell therapy in Alzheimer’s

Neurogenesis:

Initially, after the implantation, Stem Cells regenerate and replace damaged neurons and restore new neurons. They also stimulate synaptogenesis, i.e. the formation of new synapses and improve synaptic plasticity. Additionally, Stem Cells also secrete BDNF and NGF, which improve cognition.

Reduction of β-amyloid and tau protein:

Stem Cells reduce the accumulation of β-amyloid proteins and also degrade the existing plaque formed due to the accumulation of proteins. Moreover, it also decreases tangles, which cause neuronal loss and death

Immunomodulation and reduction of inflammation:

Firstly, stem cell therapy inhibits the activation of microglia. It then reduces TNF‐α and IL‐1β inflammatory cytokines and increases levels of IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine. Hence, the overall effect results in the improvement of cognitive and synaptic functions.

Paracrine effects:

Stem Cells increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, which enhances angiogenesis. Additionally, it reduces oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. Then, the BDNF and NGF neurotrophic factors repair the neurons.

Synapse formation:

The formation of new synapses and repair of synaptic plasticity takes place by generation of neurotrophic factors and the proliferation and stimulation of regulatory T cells. Thus, the overall result is an improvement of synaptic function.

Outcomes post stem cell therapy:

1. Improvement in concentration
2. Enhanced self-regulation
3. Delay in progression of disease
4. Better tolerability and ability to perform functions 
5. Improvement in Memory loss.

The role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the disease:

1. Repairs and restores damaged tissue: The disease impairs cognitive function due to the loss of cells in the brain. So, MSC restores the lost cells and neurons in the brain, which restores cognitive function.
2. Reduce inflammation: MSC reduces inflammation by releasing anti-inflammatory molecules. Additionally, it also slows down Alzheimer’s progression.
3. Reduce formation of β amyloid plaques: The main characteristic feature of Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of β amyloid plaques and MSC decreases this formation of plaques. Therefore, the overall effect is improved cognition and delay in disease progression.

Latest research insight:

A study by Texas A&M University College of Medicine researchers suggests that intranasal spray could delay the progression of Alzheimer’s. The intranasal spray contains neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles and forms the new Alzheimer’s treatments in 2025.

The study results reveal that the nasal spray reduces chronic inflammation and the formation of plaques and proteins. Additionally, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles also alter microglia activation since it leads to inflammation and also reduces proinflammatory proteins.

Exosomes in Alzheimer’s disease

Exosomes are a combination of proteins, lipids and micro-RNAs. They are pivotal in the regeneration and restoration of neuronal cells and function. 

1. They modulate the immune response, reduce oxidative stress, and then enhance the survival of neurons and neuroplasticity.
2. It reduces inflammation by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines.
3. It increases levels of BDNF since it improves cognitive functions.
4. It stimulates angiogenesis, neurogenesis (neurons) and synaptogenesis (synapses) and promotes recovery of neuronal functions.

Alzheimer’s Patient Success Stories

Conclusion

It has been found that Stem Cells are more effective in neurological disorders. Generally, Stem Cells repair and renew damaged tissue and boost functions like enhancing motor skills, reducing neuroinflammation, and delaying the progression of disease.

Stem Cells offer solutions for diseases and illnesses, which allows experts to produce extraordinary results in regenerative medicine.

Therefore, Stem Cells not only regenerate damaged tissue but also restore normal functions and prevent further progression of the disease. Thus, advanced biologics are tailored and customized according to demand.

FAQs

Q: What are the leading causes of Alzheimer’s disease?

The leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease is damage to neurons and neuronal function and the formation of plaques and tangles. Apart from damage to the neurons, other factors that contribute to the disease are a combination of environmental, lifestyle and sometimes genetic factors.

Q: Define Alzheimer’s disease

A disorder that impacts a person’s ability to behave and think and alters memory is Alzheimer’s disease. It is a neurodegenerative disorder which leads to cell death, affects cognition and leads to the formation of β amyloid plaques, which is the characteristic feature of Alzheimer’s disease.

Q: How does plaque formation take place?

β-amyloid is a protein which clumps together and results in the formation of plaques. Plaque formation alters the functions of cells, like communication. Additionally, the build-up of β-amyloid protein also damages neurons.

Q: Explain the mechanism of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in AD.

Stem Cells regenerate, replace damaged neurons, and restore new neurons. They also stimulate synaptogenesis, i.e., the formation of new synapses, and improve synaptic plasticity. Additionally, Stem Cells secrete BDNF and NGF, which enhance cognition.