Washington University researchers find way to limit Alzheimer’s-related brain damage

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have identified a potential method to reduce neurodegeneration in tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, by targeting the immune system. In a study published in the journal Neuron, scientists used an antibody to block the CXCR3 protein, which effectively prevented T cells from infiltrating the brain.

In mouse models exhibiting Alzheimer’s-like tau protein accumulation, the treatment reduced the number of T cells in the brain by approximately half. Notably, the treated mice retained roughly 40% more tissue in the brain's memory centers and performed better on memory tests compared to untreated subjects, despite no change in the levels of tau protein present.

Senior author David M. Holtzman noted that while current treatments do not decrease neurodegeneration, this pathway offers a way to potentially decrease brain cell death by mitigating the immune system's response to tau accumulation.