More misfolded proteins than previously known may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia

For decades, the story of Alzheimer’s research has been dominated by a battle between A-beta and tau amyloids, both of which can kill neurons and impact the brain’s ability to function. A new study suggests, however, that these sticky brain plaques may not be operating alone.  

Johns Hopkins University researchers have identified more than 200 types of misfolded proteins in rats that could be associated with age-related cognitive decline. 

The findings could lead the way to finding new therapeutic targets and treatments in humans that could provide relief for the millions of people over 65 who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other diseases that rob them of their memories and independence as they age.

“Amyloids are the buildup of misshapen proteins. They’re big and ugly and easy to see under the microscope, so it makes sense that they catch our attention. But we’re seeing hundreds of proteins misfolding in ways that don’t clump together in an amyloid and yet still seem to impact how the brain functions,” said Stephen Fried, an assistant professor of chemistry and protein scientist who studies how molecules in the brain change during aging. “Our research is showing that amyloids are just the tip of the iceberg.”

The results were published today in Science Advances. 

To understand the molecular differences between older brains that are mentally sharp and those that are experiencing decline, Fried and his team studied 17 2-year-old rats that grew up in the same colony. Seven rats performed poorly on memory and problem-solving tests and were considered cognitively impaired, while 10 performed as well as 6-month-old rats. 

The researchers then measured more than 2,500 types of protein in the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with spatial learning and memory. For the first time, scientists were able to determine for a large number of proteins whether individual proteins were misshapen or folded incorrectly, allowing the researchers to work out which proteins misfold for all the rats and are associated with aging in general versus which proteins specifically misfold in cognitively impaired rats.  

More than 200 proteins were misfolded in the cognitively impaired rats yet maintained their shapes in the cognitively healthy rats. The findings suggest that some of those proteins are contributing to cognitive decline, the researchers said.  

Misfolded proteins are unable to carry out tasks necessary for a cell to function properly, so cells have a natural surveillance system that identifies and destroys these misbehaving proteins. Previously, researchers thought misfolded proteins—specifically A-beta and tau proteins—were only disruptive when they clumped into amyloids. 

“We think there are a lot of proteins that can be misfolded, not form amyloids, and still be problematic,” Fried said. “And that suggests these misfolded proteins have ways of escaping this surveillance system in the cell.” 

But exactly how those misfolded proteins slip past a cell’s security system remains a mystery. 

Next, the team plans to look at misfolded proteins under high-resolution microscopes to get a more detailed picture of what their deformities look like at the molecular level. 

“A lot of us have experienced a loved one or a relative who has become less capable of doing those everyday tasks that require cognitive abilities,” Fried said. “Understanding what’s physically going on in the brain could lead to better treatments and preventive measures.”

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