A group of scientists has discovered how the brain condition badly affects the connections between brain cells, giving way to a new hope that fresh treatments for Alzheimer's disease may be underway now. The scientists said that their findings are a significant breakthrough in understanding the disease.

The loss of brain synapses is among the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. When a person is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, these connections of neurons decrease. Furthermore, these brain connections are needed for learning and forming memories.

In fact, even a person suffers from just mild cognitive impairment, these synapses collapse much before the nerve cells die.

Researchers have found a new molecular mechanism in the new study that directly results into degradation of synapses. Lead author of the study, Vladimir Sytnyk, from University of New South Wales, said that the study’s significant feat about Alzheimer's may lead to timely diagnosis of the disease and new treatments.

Sytnyk along with his colleagues examined a protein in the brain cell known as neural cell adhesion molecule 2, or NCAM2. Post-examination, they discovered that the protein is situated in the hippocampus and patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease have lower levels of NCAM2.

Sytnyk explained, “Our research shows loss of synapses is linked to loss of NCAM2 as a result of the toxic effects of beta-amyloid. It opens up new avenue for research on possible treatments that can prevent the destruction of NCAM2 in the brain”.