Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine have found a natural mechanism capable of clearing the brain of amyloid plaques, a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In a study published in Nature Neuroscience (NN), scientists demonstrated that activating the protein Sox9 prompts astrocytes, brain support cells, to actively remove toxic deposits, thus slowing cognitive decline in mouse models of the disease.
The experiment involved animals with existing memory impairments and formed plaques, resembling a condition closer to real patients. Increasing Sox9 activity enhanced the ‘cleaning’ function of astrocytes: they became more branched, active, and removed deposits significantly faster. Blocking Sox9 had the opposite effect, accelerating plaque accumulation and impairing brain function.
According to the authors, these findings open up a new therapeutic avenue. Instead of trying to prevent amyloid formation, enhancing astrocytes’ natural ability to clear the brain could be a viable approach. However, researchers emphasize that extensive safety studies and understanding Sox9 mechanisms in the human brain are needed before such methods can be applied in humans.
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