Scientists employ live human brain tissue to speed up hunt for dementia cure

Scientists in Edinburgh have pioneered a breakthrough method to study Alzheimer’s disease by using living human brain tissue, The Guardian reported.

Healthy brain samples, obtained from NHS patients undergoing tumor surgery, were exposed to toxic amyloid beta proteins extracted from deceased Alzheimer’s patients. This approach allowed researchers to observe, in real time, how these proteins damage synapses—the vital connections between brain cells responsible for memory and cognition.

The team kept brain tissue alive in nutrient-rich conditions for up to two weeks, revealing that even slight changes in amyloid beta levels disrupt brain function. Notably, tissue from the temporal lobe released higher levels of tau protein, which may explain this region’s vulnerability in early Alzheimer’s.

Funded by Race Against Dementia and the James Dyson Foundation, this method offers a powerful new tool for testing potential drugs directly on human brain cells rather than animal models. Experts believe it could accelerate the development of effective treatments, bringing hope to millions affected by dementia worldwide.