Drug target could block brain inflammation linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Scientists may have found a new way to reduce harmful inflammation in the brain by targeting a receptor that can already be blocked with existing drugs.

The research, published in Brain and led by Professor Nicholas Barnes at the University of Birmingham, identifies the P2X7 receptor as an important driver of neuroinflammation. When researchers blocked this receptor, inflammation in human brain tissue was significantly reduced.

The findings could eventually have implications for a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions in which inflammation is thought to play a role. These include traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, and psychosis.

Blocking a Key Driver of Brain Inflammation

To investigate the receptor, the researchers used live cultures of human brain cells along with slices of brain tissue collected during neurosurgery. They focused on the P2X7 receptor, which helps trigger inflammatory signaling.