Lagatar24 Desk
MICHIGAN: When people think of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss is often the first symptom that comes to mind. However, researchers at the University of Michigan have uncovered new clues about how dementia also causes significant behavioral changes, which can be just as disruptive as cognitive decline.
The study, which analyzed the brains of 128 individuals in the early stages of dementia using advanced medical imaging, found a strong link between the tau protein and behavioral changes. Unlike past research that focused on tau’s role in memory loss, this study highlights how the protein disrupts a critical brain communication network known as the salience network, which is essential for processing thoughts and emotions.
Behavioral Impact of Tau Protein
Led by Dr. Alexandru D. Iordan and Dr. Benjamin M. Hampstead, the team discovered that the more tau disrupted the salience network, the more severe the behavioral symptoms. These symptoms can manifest as agitation, anxiety, depression, and even personality changes, significantly impacting patients’ lives.
“This is the first study that directly links tau-related disruptions in the brain’s salience network to behavioral changes,” said Dr. Iordan. He emphasized that while cognitive decline is a well-known symptom of dementia, these behavioral changes can occur even in its earliest stages.
Future Research and Intervention
The findings open up new avenues for intervention. Researchers suggest that targeting the salience network through techniques like brain stimulation could potentially slow down behavioral changes in dementia patients. A larger study led by Dr. Hampstead, testing the effects of weak electrical currents applied to the brain, is already underway and nearing completion.
Additionally, this study reinforces the potential of using tau as a biomarker for dementia diagnosis and management. Blood tests that detect tau and another protein, beta amyloid, may soon become an affordable tool for predicting dementia-related behavioral changes.
This groundbreaking research could revolutionize how dementia is treated by focusing on early behavioral symptoms and offering targeted brain interventions.
