Could ecosystem management provide a new framework for Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that involves a plethora of molecular pathways. In the context of therapeutic treatment and biomarker profiling, the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide constitutes an interesting research avenue that involves interactions within a complex mixture of Aβ alloforms and other disease-modifying factors. Here, we explore the potential of an ecosystem paradigm as a novel way to consider AD and Aβ dynamics in particular. We discuss the example that the complexity of the Aβ network not only exhibits interesting parallels with the functioning of complex systems such as ecosystems but that this analogy can also provide novel insights into the neurobiological phenomena in AD and serve as a communication tool. We propose that combining network medicine with general ecosystem management principles could be a new and holistic approach to understand AD pathology and design novel therapies.
Nanobiophysics Group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Biotechnology (DBIT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium.
Ellen
E
Hubin
Plant Biology and Nature Management (APNA), Department of Biology (DBIO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
Bram
B
Vanschoenwinkel
Nanobiophysics Group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Kerensa
K
Broersen
Department of Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Middelheim General Hospital (Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
Peter P
PP
De Deyn
Plant Biology and Nature Management (APNA), Department of Biology (DBIO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
Nico
N
Koedam
Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Biotechnology (DBIT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium.
Nico A
NA
van Nuland
Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Biotechnology (DBIT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: krpauwel@vub.ac.be.
Kris
K
Pauwels
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans
C545487:APP protein, human; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
AD therapy; Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid-beta peptide; Aβ alloform; Communication; Ecosystem management; Eutrophication; Network medicine; Spatiotemporal dynamics