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7h ago

MIT-Harvard Study Identifies New Alzheimer’sRNA and DNA Pathways

Researchers uncover underexplored mechanisms of neurodegeneration, paving the way for combination therapies to address Alzheimer’s multifactorial nature.

Using a computational strategy that allows them to combine information from many large datasets, MIT researchers have identified several new potential drug targets for Alzheimer’s disease.

Overview

  • The study, published in *Nature Communications*, integrates human and fruit fly datasets to reveal novel Alzheimer’s-related pathways involving RNA modification and DNA repair.
  • Genes MEPCE and HNRNPA2B1 were identified as key players in RNA modification, while NOTCH1 and CSNK2A1 were linked to DNA repair processes contributing to neurodegeneration.
  • Experimental validation in fruit flies and iPSC-derived human neurons confirmed these pathways’ roles in increasing neuronal vulnerability to Alzheimer’s hallmarks like Tau tangles.
  • The findings emphasize the need for combination therapies targeting multiple pathways to effectively treat the disease’s complex pathology.
  • The research, funded by the NIH, highlights the power of systems biology approaches to uncover new therapeutic directions for Alzheimer’s treatment.