According to a new study, loss of the brain hormone serotonin, which is associated with happiness, may contribute to the aging-related decline in brain function.
Researchers recently reported in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that serotonin levels in critical brain regions linked to emotion, memory, and problem-solving were up to 25% lower in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than in healthy individuals.
The researchers also found that those patients had increased levels of amyloid beta, a protein that causes harmful clumps to form in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.
Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and researcher Gwenn Smith said, “The correlation we observed between lower serotonin transporters and memory problems in MCI is important because we may have identified a brain chemical that we can safely target that may improve cognitive deficits and, potentially, depressive symptoms.”
According to a Hopkins news release, Smith continued, “If we can demonstrate that serotonin loss over time is directly involved in the transition from MCI to AD [Alzheimer’s disease], recently developed antidepressant medications may be an effective way to improve memory deficits and depressive symptoms and thus may be a powerful way forward to slow disease progression.”
For this study, 45 healthy adults 55 years of age and older who had mild cognitive impairment and 49 volunteers in good health were scanned in the brain. The scans assessed how the structure of the brain changed between 2009 and 2022.
The transitional state between normal aging brain function and Alzheimer’s disease is known as mild cognitive impairment.
Frequently forgetting recent events, having trouble finding the right word, and losing one’s sense of smell are some symptoms.
According to researchers, people who develop MCI may never fully recover or may develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
They focused on serotonin, a brain chemical that has long been linked to appetite, sleep, and a happy mood. Psychological disorders, anxiety, and depression are frequently linked to serotonin loss.
According to earlier research done on mice at Johns Hopkins, serotonin loss happens prior to the brain’s amyloid beta plaques becoming widely distributed.
According to Smith, “the [most recent] study demonstrates that people with mild cognitive impairment already exhibit serotonin transporter loss.” “Even after accounting for amyloid plaques and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s-related brain degeneration, this measure of serotonin degeneration is linked to memory problems.”
Researchers noted that further research is required to monitor the decline in serotonin and rise in amyloid beta in the brains of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) more precisely.
Tau is another protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease that researchers would like to monitor.
The design of this study precluded demonstrating a direct cause-and-effect relationship between serotonin decline and cognitive decline or explaining why serotonin deficiency might lead to cognitive decline.
More on Alzhemeir’s disease
A brain ailment that worsens over time is Alzheimer’s disease. It is typified by alterations in the brain that result in protein deposits. Alzheimer’s disease results in the eventual death of brain cells and shrinkage of the brain. The most common cause of dementia, which is characterized by a progressive loss of memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills, is Alzheimer’s disease. The way a person functions is impacted by these changes.
In the US, 6.5 million adults 65 years of age and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Over 70% of them are 75 years of age or older. 60% to 70% of the approximately 55 million persons with dementia worldwide are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease.
The inability to recall recent conversations or events is one of the disease’s early symptoms. It eventually leads to severe memory loss and the inability to carry out daily duties.
Medication may help symptoms get better or slow them down. Services and programs can be used to support individuals with the illness and those who care for them.
Alzheimer’s disease does not have a cure. Severe brain damage at an advanced stage can result in infection, malnutrition, or dehydration. There is a chance of death from these issues.
The primary sign of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. Memory loss from recent conversations or events is one of the early warning signs. However, as the illness worsens, memory deteriorates and additional symptoms appear.
An individual suffering from the illness may initially be conscious of difficulties with memory and cognitive function. A friend or family member may be more likely to notice problems if symptoms worsen.
Alzheimer’s disease-related brain abnormalities cause increasing problems with:
While occasional memory loss is common in everyone, Alzheimer’s disease-related memory loss is persistent and worsens over time. Memory loss gradually impairs one’s capacity to operate at home or at work.
Individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s may:
- Rephrase questions and statements several times.
- Forget meetings, discussions, and activities.
- Items are frequently misplaced and placed in odd locations.
- Become lost in areas they used to be familiar with.
- The names of regular objects and family members eventually slip your mind.
- Struggle to articulate ideas, describe objects, or participate in conversations with the appropriate words.
