Toxic blood protein could be partially responsible for traumatic brain injury and dementia link

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-12-06 11:01

International

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A blood protein found in bruised brain tissue after a traumatic brain injury could be part of the reason traumatic brain injuries are linked to a higher dementia risk, according to international researchers. Serum amyloid P (SAP) is a blood protein that is toxic for brain cells, and researchers found it in the bruised brain tissue of 18 of 30 people who'd had a severe traumatic brain injury. The researchers say its possible the presence of SAP in the brain could be contributing to the development of dementia later in life and could be part of the reason why those with traumatic brain injuries are at higher risk of dementia. The researchers say it's also possible that removing SAP from the brain could help reduce this risk.

Media release

From: The Royal Society

Serum amyloid P component accumulates and persists in neurones following traumatic brain injury

Open Biology

Summary: Traumatic brain injury is common and can lead to dementia. Increased entry of a normal blood protein, called SAP, into the brain is associated with many conditions that increase risk of dementia. SAP from the blood is poisonous for brain nerve cells and may therefore kill them after head injury but this has not previously been studied. We have now found that SAP was present inside brain cells in bruised brain tissue after severe head injury. SAP may thereby contribute to dementia after head injury and treatment to remove SAP may thus protect the brain.

Brain injury – A blood protein, known to be toxic to brain neurons, may contribute to dementia following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The blood protein Serum amyloid P (SAP) is neurotoxic and normally excluded from the brain. SAP was found in bruised brain tissue samples from 18 of 32 TBI patients recruited at a London and Taiwanese hospital. Elevated SAP in the brain is common to many risk factors for dementia. One of the authors has developed a SAP-depleting drug that is currently in clinical trials. Open Biology

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Journal/
conference: Royal Society Open Biology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Queen Mary University of London, UK

Funder: The UCLWolfson Drug Discovery Unit was established with a generous grant from the Wolfson Foundation. Core support for the Unit has been provided since 2012 by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre and Unit Funding Scheme via the University College London Hospitals/University College London Biomedical Research Centre. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CMRPG3M1021) provided financial support in Taiwan.

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