Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil discovered that neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis, are more complex than previously thought. Their analysis of nearly 600 blood samples from patients with and without these diseases revealed that neurodegenerative processes extend beyond the central nervous system, affecting various targets throughout the body.
“We conducted a systemic analysis based on autoantibodies—defense proteins [immunoglobulins] that mistakenly attack the body’s healthy cells, tissues, or organs instead of external pathogens. In this study, we saw that, contrary to what was previously thought, these diseases don’t involve an antibody attacking only a specific region of the connection between neurons [synapse], like a thief breaking in through a door. It’s a systemic attack, like machine-gunning an entire house,” explains Júlia Nakanishi Usuda, first author of the study.
The study, published in the journal iScience, identified more than 9,000 autoantibodies from public databases. Based on the results, the researchers suggest that, rather than focusing on isolated molecular targets, treatment strategies for these diseases should focus on blocking the autoimmune response systemically. While the data science study still needs to be confirmed through in vitro and in vivo testing, it reinforces a new paradigm for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
