Researchers propose a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

In this context, astrocytes are one of the promising targets due to their early and swift response to Alzheimer’s disease progression. Astrocytes represent important homeostatic cells in the brain controlling a wide array of functions needed for an optimal brain functioning and homeostasis. Most importantly, they respond to brain insults/injuries and disease state by a specific defence process, reactive astrogliosis. In Alzheimer’s disease, the role of astrocytes is still unclear and with several recent studies showing that reactive astrogliosis can precede other well-known pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, such as amyloid deposition (Aβ) and tau tangles.

It is thus critical to define new astrocytic biomarkers to deepen our understanding of reactive astrogliosis in the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. In this context, the crosstalk between cholinergic signalling and reactive astrogliosis could hold the key for understanding the early responses of glial cells to brain pathology and injury. The landmark ‘Cholinergic Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease’ was proposed almost four decades ago, paved the way for the development of cholinesterase inhibitors – so far, the gold-standard therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.