Brain sugar glycogen assists in managing oxidative stress, may slow Alzheimer’s disease: Study

Brain sugar glycogen assists in managing oxidative stress, may slow Alzheimer’s disease: Study
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Scientists have discovered that glycogen, a stored sugar in brain cells, plays a crucial role in managing oxidative stress and may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, Anadolu Agency reported. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, reveals that glycogen metabolism helps protect the brain from toxic tau protein, a key contributor to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

Researchers at the Buck Institute for Research studied fly and human cell models and found that neurons accumulate glycogen to which tau protein binds. This binding traps glycogen and prevents its breakdown, impairing the neurons’ ability to manage oxidative stress and accelerating neurodegeneration.

The study showed that increasing the levels of the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase (GlyP), which breaks down glycogen, clears excess sugar and prevents tau from attaching to it. In neurons from patients with frontotemporal dementia, boosting GlyP improved the brain’s capacity to remove harmful substances, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy.

Lead researcher Sudipta Bar stated, “By discovering how neurons manage sugar, we may have unearthed a novel therapeutic strategy: one that targets the cell’s inner chemistry to fight age-related decline.” This approach could offer new hope for treating Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases.