The loss of connections between nerve cells is an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. The loss of these connections also causes difficulty thinking and processing information. Unfortunately, we do not yet understand why this connection loss occurs. Research has shown that the structures that make up the connections become unstable and then are lost. And we have an idea of the processes that might be involved, but do not have certainty about all of them. What causes the loss of nerve-cell connections, and can we prevent their loss? These questions are at the heart of this study, which will focus on a protein called pannexin 1. This protein increases in cells of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. It also destabilizes nerve-cell connections. This study will explore whether targeting pannexin 1 can help prevent the loss of nerve-cell connections.
