“Revealing Alzheimer’s: New Insights into the Two Phases of Brain Damage”

Recent research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is shedding new light on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, revealing that brain damage occurs in two distinct phases. Using advanced brain mapping techniques, scientists have uncovered a subtle early phase where vulnerable cell types are quietly harmed, often long before individuals notice any memory issues. This contrasts sharply with the later phase, marked by widespread destruction and the onset of symptoms, as the hallmark plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s rapidly accumulate. In this article in Science Daily, they explore these groundbreaking findings and their implications for early diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease.