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In the race to understand and treat dementia And Alzheimer's disease , a new important discovery has just been made by researchers from Johns Hopkins University. This revelation can change the way we capture and diagnose cognitive decline as Americans age.

More specifically, two proteins in the brain have long been associated with the development of Alzheimer's: A-Bêta (or amyloid-bêta), a group of proteins that form a visible plate outside the neurons, and Tau, a group of proteins that form achet in neurons. But now scientists have found more than 200 "hidden" or poorly folded proteins that can also play a role.

Here is exactly what this new research has revealed and how it revolutionizes research on dementia.

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Scientists find more than 200 hidden proteins contributing to memory loss

The small study, which was conducted in the rat and published in the review Scientific advances On July 11, compared the brain of aging rats showing signs of cognitive decline to those of healthy rats of the same age. Seventeen rats in total were used for research.

The team has focused on hippocampal protein, the brain memory The center, and found more than 200 proteins had fallen badly in rats with a memory loss, but not in others.

Unlike A-Beta and Tau, these proteins not Aclaise together to train large visible masses, which makes them more difficult to identify. However, scientists believe that they can disrupt the function of the brain over time and are not easily "cleaned" by its rinsing process.

"Amyloids are the accumulation of deformized proteins. They are large and ugly and easy to see under the microscope, it is therefore logical that they attract our attention," explained the main study author Dr Stephen Fried , assistant chemistry professor at Johns Hopkins, Daily science .

"But we see hundreds of badly folded proteins so as not to group in an amyloid and which still seem to have an impact on the functioning of the brain ... and this suggests that these proteins escape the natural defenses of the body."

How can it change what we know about dementia

This revelation means that what we have known before on the cause of dementia and Alzheimer's disease must develop.

"The amyloids are only the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Fried.

This study has opened a whole new world to scientists to explore more. More specifically, Dr. Fried and his team from John Hopkins had to examine these folding proteins under ultra -high resolution microscopes to better understand how they deform - and how they could be stopped.

"Understand what is happening physically in the brain could lead to better treatments and preventive measures, "said Dr. Fried.

Although the test of bad folding proteins is still means for the average American, this research suggests that we are approaching the possibility of identifying and diagnosing dementia and Alzheimer's disease earlier than before.

In addition, it suggests that scientists and doctors should seek more than amyloids and tau, but also other Hippocampus proteins and how they work ... or do not work.

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What it means for you

Dementia remains a major problem in the United States, with around 6.7 million elderly adults with Alzheimer's disease in the United States, according to the CDC . This number should double by 2060.

To protect your brain health as you age, experts suggest taking the following precautions:

• Eat a Mediterranean style diet Rives in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats
• Stay active with Regular exercise and daily movement
• Sleep enough to help the body "rinse" toxins and altered proteins in the brain
• Keep your mind engaged with puzzle , Reading and social interaction
• Talk to your doctor of early cognitive screening if you start to encounter memory problems