During the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when individuals appear to be free of symptoms, toxic changes are nevertheless taking place in the brain – including synapse loss. Though scientists do not yet fully know what causes this form of dementia, researchers have found how brain cell connections are destroyed in early stages of the disease.

Share on Pinterest Researchers found that synaptic levels of NCAM2 in the brain were low in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers, led by scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, say their findings could lead to more research into possible treatments.

They publish their work the journal Nature Communications.

Alzheimer’s disease was first discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906, after he observed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died of an odd mental illness, symptoms of which included memory loss and unpredictable behavior.

Upon examining her brain after death, Dr. Alzheimer found abnormal clumps – now known as amyloid plaques – and tangled fibers – now called tau tangles.

The leader of this latest study, Dr. Vladimir Sytnyk, from the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, explains that loss of synapses – which connect brain neurons – is one of the first changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Synapses are required for all brain functions,” he says, “and particularly for learning and forming memories.”

He adds that synapse loss occurs very early in Alzheimer’s disease, long before the nerve cells die, when only mild cognitive impairment is noticeable.