In a remarkable scientific stride, new research suggests that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may possess a genetic edge that helps shield them from Alzheimer’s, igniting fresh hope for experts in their quest to discover a cure or preventive strategies.
The study conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that those suffering from MS are “far less likely” to exhibit molecular signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Matthew Brier, lead author of the study and assistant professor of neurology and radiology, stated that this finding, published in the Annals of Neurology, could revolutionise the approach to Alzheimer’s treatment research.
The inspiration for the study came from his mentor and collaborator Anne Cross, who has decades of experience treating MS patients.
Cross observed that her patients, despite ageing into the typical risk bracket for Alzheimer’s and having familial predispositions, were not developing the condition.
She remarked: “I noticed that I couldn’t find a single MS patient of mine who had typical Alzheimer’s disease.”
MS is an autoimmune disorder that targets the brain and spinal cord and can sometimes mimic cognitive issues akin to Alzheimer’s.
However, even when Cross referred these patients to Alzheimer’s specialists, it was confirmed that they did not have Alzheimer’s Disease.
In the study, a new FDA-approved blood test was administered to 100 MS patients to predict the presence of amyloid plaques indicative of Alzheimer’s. The results were then compared with a control group of 300 individuals without MS.
Brier disclosed that the control group had 50% more positive Alzheimer’s tests than the MS group.
The research also discovered that those with very typical cases of MS, in terms of age of onset, severity and progression, were even less likely than their MS peers to have these Alzheimer’s indicators.
Ultimately, the study has unveiled a connection between the nature of MS and protection against Alzheimer’s Disease, but the exact link remains unknown. Brier and Cross intend to delve deeper into this, theorising that the immune system activity causing MS may also reduce the amount of plaque-causing Alzheimer’s.