Can Fruit Flies Get Alzheimer’s Disease?

Researchers from the University College London (UCL) have shown that modifying the activity of brain cells can extend fruit flies’ lifespans and prevent the damage that is typical of Alzheimer’s disease. By altering the levels of two proteins in two different types of brain cells, researchers were able to lengthen fruit flies’ lifespans by as much as 9%. They also found that the buildup of amyloid – the protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease – was reduced in the flies.

Jumbo-Lucioni has been working with fruit fly models for most of her career. After receiving her doctorate in neuroscience, she became interested in Alzheimer’s disease and looked into the mechanisms involved in the disease. Her research focuses on the brain and the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the human body. The RAS is responsible for controlling blood pressure and is overactive in some people. Researchers have hypothesized that this system may be associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease.

The fruit fly model was also useful in discovering the role of tau in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that Ab interacts with the protein tau in the fly brain, enhancing the phosphorylation of tau by Shaggy, a fly ortholog of GSK3b. The findings of this study may help scientists understand the mechanisms of the disease and find new treatments.

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