A neuroscientist from Luxembourg has made a breakthrough in the study of Alzheimer’s disease

Michael Heneka, a neuroscientist and Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg, has been awarded the European Grand Prize by the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. His long-standing research into neuroinflammation is fundamentally changing the scientific understanding of the disease’s aetiology. Heneka’s research shifts the focus from the accumulation of amyloid proteins to the interaction between the nervous system and the brain’s immune cells.

The scientist emphasises that Alzheimer’s disease is not confined to processes within nerve cells. The brain’s immune system plays an active role in the progression of the disease by responding to danger signals. Heneki’s team has succeeded in identifying a specific signalling pathway responsible for these inflammatory reactions. Based on this discovery, early clinical trials have already been initiated for drugs capable of blocking this pathway and, as a result, slowing down the development of destructive processes.

One of the most significant findings of the study is that the disease begins to develop during a ‘clinically silent phase’ – decades before the first symptoms appear, often between the ages of 30 and 40. Heneka argues that intervention at this very stage could have a significant impact on the course of the disease. Furthermore, the scientist points to a direct link between serious infections (such as pneumonia) or surgical operations and the subsequent development of cognitive impairment in older people.

In addition to genetic factors, lifestyle and the environment also influence the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The expert cites air pollution, diabetes, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as the main risks. At the same time, regular physical activity, monitoring cholesterol levels, a balanced diet and social stimulation remain effective ways of maintaining cognitive health and preventing mental decline.