Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine are testing a new idea for treating Alzheimer’s disease. The idea focuses on a protein in the brain that makes a very small amount of a gas.
What the Protein Does
The protein is called Cystathionine γ‑lyase (CSE). It creates hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs. Even though the gas is poisonous in large doses, tiny amounts are normal in brain cells and seem to help memory.
Why This Matters
Earlier work showed that hydrogen sulfide can keep mouse brain cells safe. The problem is that giving the gas directly is risky because it can be toxic. Researchers now want to learn how to keep the natural, low level of the gas steady inside neurons.
Building on Past Studies
Past experiments by Professor Solomon Snyder showed that mice missing CSE had worse brain health, especially in models of Huntington’s disease. In 2021 the same team saw that mice with Alzheimer‑like symptoms also had low CSE activity, and tiny injections of hydrogen sulfide helped protect their brains.
Memory Tests in Mice
To see how CSE affects memory, scientists used a maze called the Barnes maze. Young mice (two months old) with and without CSE found the hidden shelter quickly. When the mice got older (six months), the ones without CSE struggled, while normal mice still succeeded.
Brain Changes Without CSE
Looking at the brain tissue, researchers found several problems in mice that lacked CSE:
- Fewer proteins that help make new neurons.
- Breaks in blood vessels, weakening the blood‑brain barrier.
- New neurons had trouble reaching the hippocampus, the area that stores memories.
Potential New Treatment Path
More than six million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and current medicines do not stop the disease from getting worse. If scientists can safely boost CSE activity or increase the tiny amount of hydrogen sulfide the brain makes, they might create a therapy that protects brain cells and slows the disease.
Support for the Research
The study was funded by several U.S. government agencies, health foundations, and private donors. Many researchers from Johns Hopkins, Case Western, and other institutions contributed to the work.