Scientists Identify ‘Ground Zero’ for Alzheimer’s Disease

A neurotransmitter may play a role in Alzheimer’s prevention.

FOX’s Alex Hein reports:

Researchers have identified ‘ground zero’ for Alzheimer’s in the brain: The place the disease appears to strike first and a region they say may be more important to keep sharp than previously thought.

The locus coeruleus a small part of the brain stem, is the first region of the brain to exhibit Tau pathology, a well known marker for Alzheimer’s. Researchers said while not all people will develop Alzheimer’s, most people have some signs of Tau pathology in this brain region by early adulthood.

In the study published in Trends in Cognitive Science, researchers argued the locus coeruleus may be more vulnerable to infections and toxins compared to other brain regions due to its interconnectedness. The brain region also controls a neurotransmitter that helps regulate heartbeat, attention, memory, and cognition.

The release of the neurotransmitter may play a role in Alzheimer’s prevention. Previous animal studies suggest the neurotransmitter may help shield neurons from elements that kill cells and expedite the disease.

For more on this story, check foxnewshealth.com.

Housecall for Health, I’m Alex Hein, FOX News.