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The Unexpected Link Between Cancer and Alzheimer’s: A Potential Breakthrough
The seemingly disparate conditions of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease may be connected in a surprising way. Researchers are beginning to understand why its relatively rare for individuals to be diagnosed with both diseases concurrently, and a recent study suggests a specific protein produced by cancer cells could hold the key to preventing or treating Alzheimer’s.
A large-scale analysis published in 2020 indicated that individuals diagnosed with cancer had an approximately 11% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (Li et al., 2020). Though, interpreting this connection has been challenging. One factor is that cancer patients may succumb to their cancer before Alzheimer’s symptoms have a chance to manifest. Another is that certain cancer treatments can cause cognitive impairment,possibly masking an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Chinese Researchers Shed New Light
A 15-year research project conducted by scientists at the Huazhong University of science and Technology in Wuhan, China, has revealed a potential mechanism behind this link. The team, led by neurologist Youming Lu, developed a model to study both Alzheimer’s and cancer concurrently. They implanted tumors – specifically those causing lung, prostate, and colon cancer in humans – into mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease. Remarkably, these mice did not develop the characteristic amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s.
Sistasin C: The Protein Making a Difference
The researchers meticulously analyzed the