• In Alzheimer’s disease, a buildup of tau protein leads to the death of brain tissue.
• New research has linked this tau buildup to the accumulation of cholesteryl esters — a form of lipid that is associated with inflammation.
• The findings suggest that clearing out these cholesteryl esters may reduce the brain damage and behavioral changes seen in people with Alzheimer’s, at least in mice so far.
• However, the researchers emphasize that the compound used in their study is unsuitable for use in people, so they are looking for other therapies that have the same clearing effect.

By Katharine Lang on November 30, 2023 — Fact checked by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D.

read full article