Cell stress, mitochondrial dysfunction observed in early Alzheimer's patients

Researchers at Invicro have found evidence supporting cellular stress and bioenergetic abnormalities in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, according to new data published in Science Translational Medicine.

“Invicro’s research and novel biomarkers are significant for the progression of clinical trials in AD and neurodegenerative disorders,” Roger N. Gunn, PhD, study author and chief science officer at Invicro, said in a company press release.

Using positron emission tomography, Gunn and colleagues quantified endoplasmic reticulum stress marker sigma 1 receptor (S1R), mitochondrial complex 1 (MC1) and presynaptic vesicular protein SV2A in 12 patients with early AD and 16 cognitively normal controls. Researchers also used magnetic resonance imaging to assess regional brain volume and cerebral blood flow in participants.

According to the release, AD patients had widespread increases in S1R and regional decreases in MC1, SV2A, brain volume and cerebral blood flow compared with controls. Additionally, reductions in mitochondrial density were progressively observed in AD patients over 12 to 18 months, researchers reported.

“This work further extends Invicro’s repertoire of biomarkers for use in AD clinical trials,” Gunn said.

Reference:

Venkataraman AV, et al. Sci Transl Med. 2022;doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abk1051.