Mitochondrial Plaques in Alzheimer's Brains Discovered

University of Minnesota researchers have identified a novel form of neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease called mitochondrial plaques, the university announced. The findings were recently published in Nature Neuroscience. The study demonstrates that these intracellular plaques emerge in both preclinical models and human post-mortem brain tissue. Distinct from classic extracellular beta-amyloid plaques, mitochondrial plaques accumulate high levels of amyloid precursor protein and appear to form independently during the earliest stages of neurodegeneration. Because these structures directly impair intracellular neuronal machinery, they represent an unrecognized driver of disease progression and an early therapeutic target. As the disease advances, mitochondrial plaques frequently colocalize with traditional extracellular plaques, suggesting they may act as early intracellular seeds for broader amyloid pathology. Next steps include the identification of biomarkers of mitochondrial plaques and screening for drugs that can prevent their accumulation. Funding was provided by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health.