Researchers have uncovered an unexpected culprit lurking in the brains of aging people and Alzheimer’s patients: a virus-like enzyme that may be fueling brain changes. The twist? We already have drugs that target it.
A Viral Enzyme Found Where It Shouldn’t Be
Reverse transcriptase, the enzyme known for helping HIV spread in the body, has now been found in the human brain—even without any viral infection present.
The Brain Might Be Making It On Its Own
It turns out the brain isn’t borrowing the enzyme from viruses—it’s producing it itself, especially in neurons that tend to be affected in Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Patients on HIV Drugs? Less Risk
Medical record data shows that people taking HIV medication that blocks reverse transcriptase are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. That’s no small coincidence.
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Less Enzyme Activity in Advanced Alzheimer’s
In brain samples from people who died with late-stage Alzheimer’s, researchers found lower levels of the enzyme—likely because the neurons that produce it were already gone.
Ancient DNA May Be Behind the Mystery
Scientists traced the enzyme’s source to something called LINE1—an old, mostly inactive chunk of human DNA that can randomly reactivate and mess with our genomes.
Fragments, Not Full Genes, Are Still Active
Even though many LINE1 sequences are broken or incomplete, some of them still manage to produce active enzymes. That’s a game-changer.
Some Fragments Go Into Overdrive
Shockingly, a few of these short genetic fragments produced 50 times more enzyme activity than others—raising alarms about their potential impact on brain health.
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New Tech Helped Reveal Hidden Sequences
Researchers used long-read sequencing to uncover thousands of previously unknown gene fragments in brain tissue that traditional methods would have missed.
Neurons Are the Hotspots
The enzyme activity was far more common in gray matter—where most of the brain’s neurons live—suggesting neurons are the main source.
A New Hope With Existing Drugs
Since the enzyme is already targeted by FDA-approved HIV drugs, scientists now want to test whether these medications could help slow or prevent Alzheimer’s. The potential is huge.
This article is based on information from News Medical
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