Still worried about Alzheimer's disease? "China Brain Project" may bring new hope!

Zeng Jianxiong's research group from Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Songjiang Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Professor Ma Xueling from the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, published a research paper titled "Microbial infection promotes amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease via modulating γ-secretase" in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, a subsidiary of Nature, revealing the molecular mechanism by which central infection of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), which is commonly found in the human population, promotes the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease.

Speaking of Alzheimer's disease, it is not only a disease, but also a cruel social problem. With the aging of the population, the number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (commonly known as senile dementia) and Parkinson's disease is increasing. For example, there are more than 9 million Alzheimer's patients in China, ranking first in the world , and the prevalence rate among the elderly over 65 years old is 4% to 7%. These diseases seriously affect patients' cognition, behavior and daily living ability, bringing a heavy burden to families and society. There is currently no effective cure. Fortunately, the National Science and Technology Innovation 2030-"Brain Science and Brain-like Research" major project, namely the "China Brain Project", has made significant progress in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

● Research progress in brain science on neurodegenerative diseases

Brain science provides a new perspective for us to understand the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases by studying the structure and function of the brain. Using advanced imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), scientists are able to observe structural changes and metabolic abnormalities in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. These changes include the loss of neurons, the reduction of synaptic connections, and the functional decline of specific brain regions.

In addition to imaging technology, brain science research also involves molecular biology, genetics, pathology and other fields. Through these studies, scientists have found that neurodegenerative diseases are often associated with specific gene mutations, abnormal protein accumulation, and neuroinflammation. For example, in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, scientists have found abnormal deposition of beta-amyloid protein and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, which are considered to be key factors in the onset of the disease.

● Application of brain-like research in neurodegenerative diseases

Brain-like research, as a branch of artificial intelligence, imitates the working principles of the brain to build intelligent systems. In the study of neurodegenerative diseases, brain-like research plays an increasingly important role. By building neural network models to simulate the brain's cognitive and memory processes, scientists can better understand how neurodegenerative diseases affect these processes.

For example, in the study of Alzheimer's disease, scientists used deep learning technology to build a neural network model to simulate the brain's memory mechanism . They found that when certain neurons in the model were "damaged" or "lost", the model's memory ability would be significantly reduced, which is very similar to the symptoms of memory loss in Alzheimer's patients. Through these models, scientists can not only understand the pathogenesis of the disease more deeply, but also test potential treatments.

In addition, brain-like research also provides new tools for early diagnosis and disease monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases. By analyzing patients' neuroimaging and behavioral data, scientists are able to train machine learning models that can identify disease characteristics. These models can help doctors diagnose diseases more accurately and monitor the progression of the disease.

● Transformation of research results into clinical practice

The research results of brain science and brain-like research on neurodegenerative diseases are gradually being transformed into clinical applications. In terms of diagnosis, diagnostic methods based on neuroimaging and machine learning technology have begun to be applied in clinical practice. These methods can more accurately identify the early symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and provide patients with more timely treatment.

In terms of treatment, the disease pathogenesis revealed by brain science research provides targets for the development of new drugs. For example, scientists are developing drugs that can inhibit pathological processes such as beta-amyloid deposition and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, brain-like research based on neural network models also provides new ideas for the rehabilitation treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. By training patients' cognitive abilities and improving brain plasticity, it is possible to help patients recover some functions.

In addition to diagnosis and treatment, brain science and brain-like research also play an important role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases . By gaining a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of the disease, scientists can develop more effective prevention strategies. For example, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases can be reduced by improving lifestyles and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

● Challenges and prospects

Although brain science and brain-like research have made significant progress in neurodegenerative diseases, they still face many challenges and unknown areas . First, the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is very complex, involving the interaction of multiple genes, proteins and environmental factors. Therefore, more research efforts are still needed to fully understand the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Secondly, in terms of clinical transformation, although some new diagnostic methods and treatment strategies have shown potential, they still need to undergo rigorous clinical trials to verify their effectiveness and safety. In addition, due to the heterogeneity and individual differences of neurodegenerative diseases, personalized treatment strategies for different patients are also an important direction for future research.

Finally, with the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous accumulation of data, brain science and brain-like research are expected to play a greater role in the prediction, early diagnosis, precision treatment, and rehabilitation care of neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, these studies will also provide us with more valuable knowledge about the working mechanism of the brain and promote the continued development of fields such as neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

● Conclusion

The exploration and application of brain science and brain-like research in neurodegenerative diseases has brought us new hopes and challenges. By deeply studying the working mechanism of the brain and simulating the intelligent system of the brain, we hope to better understand the nature of these diseases and provide patients with more effective diagnosis and treatment methods. However, this process is still full of unknowns and challenges, which requires scientists' unremitting efforts and exploration. Let us look forward to the "China Brain Project" bringing more good news to patients with neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

This work was originally created by the health science team of Songjiang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine

Author: Liu Ying, attending physician at Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Corresponding author: Shen Hua, deputy chief physician of general practice, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Image source: Composed by the author and then created by AI

Fund Project: 2023 Science Popularization Project of Songjiang District, Shanghai (2023SJKPZ016)