{"id":92788,"date":"2025-08-27T11:50:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T09:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/?p=92788"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:45:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T09:45:32","slug":"alzheimers-parkinsons-huntingtons-how-science-is-trying-to-stay-ahead-of-age-related-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/alzheimers-parkinsons-huntingtons-how-science-is-trying-to-stay-ahead-of-age-related-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer\u2019s, Parkinson\u2019s, Huntington\u2019s: How Science Is Trying to Stay Ahead of Age-Related Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The paradox of modern times is that we can extend life expectancy, yet the brain does not always keep pace with maintaining its functional capacity. Societies are ageing, and with advancing age the risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases. Projections are alarming: the number of people living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease is expected to double by 2050. \u201cThis is a civilisation-level problem that is growing exponentially,\u201d says Dr Agnieszka Krzy\u017cosiak, Head of the Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Research Group<\/a> at \u0141ukasiewicz \u2013 PORT.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Pathological proteins inside neurons<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Neurodegenerative diseases remain almost entirely incurable. Despite progress in innovative approaches\u2014therapeutic antibodies, gene therapies\u2014medicine still does not have a definitive solution. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is therefore essential.<\/p>

\u201cIn most cases, these are not hereditary diseases. Age is by far the strongest risk factor,\u201d explains Dr Krzy\u017cosiak. A common denominator across many disorders is the accumulation of pathological proteins<\/strong> inside nerve cells.<\/p>

Healthy cells rely on an advanced protein quality-control system: faulty proteins are removed, allowing the cell to maintain balance. In diseased neurons this system breaks down. \u201cProteostasis becomes disrupted, and toxic protein aggregates accumulate, ultimately leading to neuronal death,\u201d she says.<\/p>

This process is a central focus of the team\u2019s research. \u201cIf we can strengthen protein-quality control pathways and stop pathological protein build-up, we may be able to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.\u201d Her group also seeks biomarkers<\/strong>\u2014early warning signals detectable in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. \u201cWe aim to detect these diseases as early as possible and link clinical data with laboratory findings.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Reprogramming cells<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Modern science offers increasingly powerful tools to do so. \u201cWe focus on modelling diseases using human cells,\u201d says Dr Krzy\u017cosiak. Her team develops models based on directly reprogramming patient-derived fibroblasts into neurons<\/strong>.<\/p>

\u201cIt is a breakthrough approach because the resulting neurons retain the patient\u2019s biological age\u2014and age is the major risk factor.\u201d<\/p>

These models allow researchers to observe disease processes in an environment far closer to human biology than traditional animal models. Patient-derived cells preserve the individual\u2019s genetic background and maintain age-related transcriptional and epigenetic signatures. This enables scientists to investigate how disease unfolds specifically in the ageing human brain.<\/p>

Dr Krzy\u017cosiak\u2019s experience shows that laboratory discoveries can lead to real therapeutic advances. During her fellowship in Cambridge, her team identified a compound that strengthens the cell\u2019s natural defence mechanisms and alleviates symptoms in models of neurodegenerative diseases. \u201cWhat began as basic research is now in Phase II clinical trials for ALS,\u201d she notes.<\/p>

However, the path from discovery to therapy requires more than science alone. \u201cCommercialisation is always extremely challenging. My time in Cambridge showed me how essential networking and a supportive biotech ecosystem are for translating discoveries into real applications,\u201d she adds.<\/p>

The researcher also emphasises that progress depends on the involvement of patients and society. \u201cMedical data and biological samples are incredibly valuable. They allow us to understand diseases better\u2014and all procedures are fully anonymised.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Conversations about brain health<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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According to Dr Krzy\u017cosiak, each of us can influence our brain\u2019s condition. \u201cLifestyle matters. Poor diet, lack of physical activity or chronic overstimulation put strain on neurons. Intellectual engagement in older adults\u2014even something as simple as solving crossword puzzles\u2014helps maintain brain plasticity.\u201d<\/p>

In just a few days, Wroc\u0142aw will host one of the most important national events for neuroscientists\u2014the Congress of the Polish Society for Neuroscience (PTBUN)<\/strong>. Dr Krzy\u017cosiak is looking forward to it: \u201cThe scientific level of the congress is very high. It brings together researchers from multiple disciplines, and multidisciplinarity is key if we want to understand disease mechanisms and design effective therapies.\u201d<\/p>

She highlights the public panel on ageing and dementia, \u201cNeurosociety: Seniors at the Centre of Medical Innovation\u201d<\/strong>, which will take place on 2 September, 15:00\u201316:45<\/strong>, at the Wroc\u0142aw University of Science and Technology Congress Centre (Janiszewskiego 8)<\/strong>. Residents of Lower Silesia, older adults and their families will have an opportunity to talk with representatives of local authorities, clinicians and researchers.<\/p>

\u201cIt is crucial that these discussions involve not only scientists, but also patients and the wider community\u2014because ageing is an issue that affects us all,\u201d stresses Dr Krzy\u017cosiak.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The paradox of modern times is that we can extend life expectancy, yet the brain does not always keep pace with maintaining its functional capacity. Societies are ageing, and with advancing age the risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases. Projections are alarming: the number of people living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease is expected to double by 2050. \u201cThis is a civilisation-level problem that is growing exponentially,\u201d says Dr Agnieszka Krzy\u017cosiak, Head of the Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Research Group at \u0141ukasiewicz \u2013 PORT.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":86630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[690],"class_list":["post-92788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bez-kategorii","tag-researches"],"acf":{"czas_czytania":"3","order":"0"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-18 13:16:07","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92788"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97292,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92788\/revisions\/97292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}