The Pascual Maragall Foundation creates a mini-brain to study the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

The Pascual Maragall Foundation’s research center, the Barcelonaßeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), has created brain organoids, also known as mini-brains, from stem cells to mimic the development of Alzheimer’s disease and study in detail what factors contribute to its onset and development. progression.

These miniature brains are in vitro cell cultures that recapitulate the three-dimensional structure of the human brain and mimic its functions, making them a highly potential tool for researchers to understand human development and neurological diseases.

Experimentation tool

Laura Garcia Gonzalez, a research fellow at the BBRC Genomics Research Group and project leader, explained in a statement that these brain organoids are a critical tool for studying complex human diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, and a very powerful predictive tool for analysis. various genetic factors influencing the development of the disease.

This project, led by García, began in 2022 and allows the generation of stem cells from specialized cells obtained from blood samples of Pascual Maragall Foundation research participants. Specifically, the process of cellular reprogramming erases the identity of the extracted cells to turn them into stem cells, and from them, brain organoids are created that can be used to carefully study the development of Alzheimer’s disease without resorting to the help of animals. experimentation.

As the BBRC researcher explained, these mini-brains will be used to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, “bringing us closer and closer to preventing, slowing or even stopping the progression of the disease.”

In addition to creating these miniature brains to “better understand and understand Alzheimer’s disease,” the project he is leading also includes the creation of a stem cell bank designed to serve as a platform for testing new pharmacological treatments, an important step in researching effective treatments.

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Celeste Lopez

On the other hand, this study also opened up new lines of research, such as the one that studies the effects of Covid on the brains of people with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease.

To further promote mini-brain research, the Pascual Maragalla Foundation has launched a campaign –Mini-brains that allow you to think big– for the purpose of raising funds. The goal is to raise 250,000 euros by December.

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