Alzheimer's Antibodies

Gradual accumulation of protein aggregates in the brain is believed to be a major contributing factor to the memory loss, confusion and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The main component of these aggregates, or plaques, is a protein called amyloid beta – labeled green in the mouse brain specimen pictured. Researchers are investigating ways to rid the brain of amyloid beta plaques in the hope of relieving or reversing patients’ declining cognitive functions, and one approach has been to use antibodies (labeled red) targeted against the protein. In mouse models of the disease, such antibodies have successfully cleared plaques and improved symptoms. However, clinical trials with the antibodies have caused dangerous inflammation in patients’ brains. By examining how the existing anti-amyloid antibodies interact with the body’s immune system, it’s believed scientists will be able to tweak the antibodies’ designs to maximise their plaque clearing abilities while minimising uncontrolled inflammation.

Written by Ruth Williams

Ruth Williams

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Ruth is a freelance science journalist based in the US. She's a regular correspondent for The Scientist, and her work has appeared in The Lancet, Nature, Scientific American Mind, BBC Focus and elsewhere. Twitter @rooph

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• Image courtesy of the University of Southampton
• Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK
• Image copyright held by original authors
• Research published in Acta Neuropathologica, November 2015