Columbia Doctors Trace Alzheimer's Origin to Endosome, Eye Human Drug Path in 2 to 5 Years
Updated
Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 1
Columbia Doctors Trace Alzheimer's Origin to Endosome, Eye Human Drug Path in 2 to 5 Years
3 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 1
Summary
Columbia researchers identified the endosome as the first cell structure to fail in Alzheimer's, arguing that defect may start the disease long before widespread brain damage appears.
Dr. Scott Small said the endosome acts like a cellular transit hub; when it breaks down, transport inside brain cells jams, disrupting functions tied to thinking, movement and emotion.
Mouse studies and postmortem human brain analysis showed similar abnormalities, and researcher Yasir Qureshi said the team was able to "rescue" those processes in experimental work.
The group already has drug candidates but has not begun human trials; next steps are more academic studies followed by industry collaboration to develop a treatment.
Small said a breakthrough could come within 2 to 5 years, framing the finding as a potential route to therapies that target Alzheimer's at its earliest stage.