Understanding Alzheimer’s: Two Phases and a Vulnerable Neuron

Alzheimer’s disease may unfold in two distinct phases, according to a groundbreaking study of cells from 84 cadaver brains. Researchers led by Ed Lein of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle discovered a slow buildup of pathology in the early phase, followed by a rapid, exponential decline in the later stage. Published in Nature Neuroscience, the study also identified somatostatin inhibitory neurons as particularly vulnerable, with evidence showing they begin to die off during the early phase of the disease. These findings shed new light on the progression of Alzheimer’s and potential early intervention targets. Check out this article posted on NPR.