A new antibody which could undo early damage to protein that leads to Alzheimer's disease was discovered by a team of Harvard researchers.

Using a mouse model for the study, scientists were able to identify a protein which alters shape when the subject experiences brain trauma, according to the research published July 15 in the journal Nature, as per USA Today.

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Previous studies revealed that those who suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease later in life unlike those who didn't.

Under normal circumstances, nerve cells contain healthy tau proteins (trans P-tau) that form the cells' scaffolding giving them shape and allowing them to function properly.

In the recent study, scientists discovered that in cases of traumatic brain injury, the brain cannot form healthy tau proteins but instead forms misshapen versions called cis P-tau. This kind of protein has a degenerative effect on nerve cells causing malfunction and damage to its energy generators. Such process will eventually lead to toxicity or cell death, according to Healthline News.

In the long run, cis P-tau will spread all over the brain, destroying one neuron after another. Such process causes severe neurofibrillary tau tangles that affect brain function causing nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Along with the team's discovery of the cis P-tau which develops as early as 12 hours after traumatic brain injury, comes their development of an antibody against the destructive protein.

The said antibody can correct the shape of cis P-tau protein, turning it back to its normal trans form, at least among the mouse model for now.

Kun Ping Lu, senior author of the paper and chief of translational therapeutics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a professor at Harvard Medical School said researchers are looking for a similar antibody that would function the same in humans, MD All Specialties has learned.

"Our study shows that an early neurodegenerative process induced by the toxic tau protein can begin just hours after a traumatic brain injury, "said Lu. "We have developed a potent monoclonal antibody that can prevent the onset of widespread neurodegeneration."

"The most exciting thing is we can do something about it. We can stop it early on," Lu added.

The group's goal to "humanize" the antibody will reportedly play an important role in Alzheimer's disease for once it becomes a success, the antibodies could be used for detection and treatment of neurodegeneration in the human brain.

Tagsantibody, Alzheimer's Disease