Researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University and the Spanish National Research Council, report elevated levels of active meprin-β in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients. The team, led by Javier Sáez Valero, focused on the enzyme's active form.
The finding suggests that meprin-β could serve as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease or as a target for therapeutic intervention. Because the study is observational, additional work is needed to determine whether the enzyme contributes to disease progression or is a consequence of it.
Since only one source is available, no independent comparisons are possible. The results await replication in larger cohorts.