Scientists discover dementia that has the same symptoms of Alzheimer's

Despite the similarity, they are different things. LATE acts even more slowly than Alzheimer's and affects people at the end of life.

The characteristics of a new type of disease were first described by a group of scientists. So far so good. It turns out that this disease is extremely similar to Alzheimer's - and may help explain the not-so-rare ineffectiveness of treating this problem, which is the most common dementia in the world.

We are talking about LATE, described in a study published on Tuesday (30) in the scientific journal Brain . According to the survey, she feta more than 20% of the elderly over 85 years of age. The acronym simplifies a disease with a long and complicated name: age-related limbic-predominant TDP-43 encephalopathy. 

Do not be alarmed: the name even helps you understand what this trouble is. Encephalopathy means that it is a disease in the brain. TDP-43 is the protein that contributes to the manifestation of the condition. "Limbic-predominant" says that it affects the limbic system, the area of ​​the brain responsible for emotions and social behaviors. And "age-related" indicates that those most affected are the elderly.

What distinguishes LATE from Alzheimer's is precisely the TDP-43 protein. In a young healthy person, it helps to regulate the genetic activity in the brain. Already when it presents in abnormal conditions, it affects the learning and the memory. In the case of those suffering with Alzheimer's are other proteins that lie behind: tau and beta-amyloid.

In practice, the symptoms are very similar: loss of memory, cognitive decline and mood swings. The main difference is that LATE develops more slowly. But it is also possible that a person has both diseases - and then degeneration is faster.

The fact that the two diseases are caused by different proteins explains the ineffectiveness of some treatments for Alzheimer's - there is no point in targeting beta-amyloid proteins, for example if the problem is in TDP-43.

For the authors of the study, it is essential to deepen the studies in LATE to find new treatments against the dementias. "We hope this work will help accelerate research that will help us understand the causes of these diseases and unlock new therapeutic opportunities," said Nina Silverberg, director of the Alzheimer's Center at the National Institute of Aging in the United States, in a statement.