Scientists turn brain cells into Alzheimer’s plaque cleaners

Researchers are exploring a new strategy against Alzheimer's disease that repurposes the brain's own support cells to hunt down and destroy the sticky protein deposits that are a hallmark of the condition. The approach targets astrocytes, a type of glial cell that is extremely abundant in the brain and normally helps maintain a healthy environment for neurons. Scientists have genetically engineered these astrocytes to carry a special receptor called a CAR, or chimeric antigen receptor, which acts like a molecular homing device that directs the cell toward amyloid plaques so they can be cleared away. The CAR concept was originally developed for cancer immunotherapy, where it is used to retrain immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells.

The key idea is to give the brain a built-in, long-lasting cleanup crew rather than relying on repeated treatments from outside the body. Current Alzheimer's therapies that target plaques, such as lecanemab and donanemab, require patients to receive regular intravenous infusions of antibodies, which can be burdensome and expensive. By engineering cells that already live in the brain to do this work continuously, scientists hope to create a more durable solution. It is important to note that this research is still in an early experimental stage, and detailed data on how well it works, how safe it is, or how many patients or animals have been studied have not yet been reported.