Mental Health

Dementia Update: Over-Active Immune System Leads To Normal Brain Cells Damage

By Dheeraj Rawal | Update Date: May 16, 2016 07:11 AM EDT

The study carried out by the researchers at the university in Australia suggests that dementia usually goes from bad to worse conditions because of the overactive immune system. Even though it is known that the immune system helps to prevent the spread of various diseases, the study reports that the system acts in contradiction when it comes to the neurological situations. The research has claimed that a joint disease-causing mechanism for the neurodegenerative disease exists, which leads to the degeneration of the brain cells.

"The researchers suggest that the innate immune system is initially activated to eliminate a perceived threat of brain cell abnormality in neurodegenerative diseases," reported Express. "But it cannot remove the threat, meaning the immune system remains active, causing low-level prolonged damage and, ultimately, progressive brain cell death."

The researchers included in the study also said that the neurodegenerative diseases are caused due to the stimulation of various surveillance pathways. "It is the cumulative result of chronic activation of the innate shadowing ways, triggered by endogenous or environmental danger or damage associated molecular patterns in a progressively expanding cascade of inflammation, tissue damage, and cell death," reported Science Daily.

Further, the research lead professor, Robert Richards, said that the immune system cause progressive damage to the brain cells and it leads to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"Our interest in the body's own immune system as the culprit began when we discovered that immune system agents become activated in a laboratory model of Huntington's disease," said Robert, as reported by Psych Central. "Remarkably, researchers from other laboratories were at the same time reporting similar features in other neurodegenerative diseases. When we pulled the evidence together, it made a very strong case that uncontrolled innate immunity is indeed the common cause."

But, some researchers have claimed that the recent study does not hold much weight. Australian Journal reported that the research activity carried out at the university cannot be considered as accurate as it was conducted by using drugs on rats. Also, there is no evidence whether the same diagnosis holds true for humans. The main reason behind this is reported to be the incorrect evaluation method used to prove the point.

"This review doesn't pretend to be anything other than a collection of evidence supporting a hypothesis," reported NHS. "It provides a useful range of evidence-based points exploring potential trigger molecules, genetic susceptibility, and how the underlying biology might work. As any reputable scientist will tell you, a hypothesis needs to be tested by experimentation before it can advance into a credible theory."

The study was carried out at the University of Adelaide and was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. In addition to all the above-mentioned information, few reports suggest that by 2050 Australia will have almost twice the number of current dementia patients.

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