Cancer May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease - What Research Shows

New research suggests an unexpected link between cancer and Alzheimer's disease. According to the journal Nature, the protein cystatin C, produced by cancer cells, appears to break down the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. In experiments with mice, cystatin C penetrated the brain and, by binding to plaque molecules, attracted immune cells that subsequently degraded them. This discovery could explain why individuals with a history of cancer have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. The protein seems to activate a defense mechanism of the body, which targets and destroys the toxic plaques in the brain. However, researchers emphasize that these findings are preliminary and require further investigation to confirm in humans. If the observations are validated, they could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to treat Alzheimer's disease, leveraging cystatin C's ability to break down plaques. Cancer researcher Jeanne Mandelblatt stated that these findings suggest a potential new direction for the development of drugs and therapies for Alzheimer's, but cautioned that further study is needed.