Unlocking the Brain’s Regenerative Potential to Fight Alzheimer’s

As a teenager, María Llorens-Martín, PhD, a BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Research-funded scientist, watched her grandfather struggle with Parkinson’s disease and eventually lose his life to it.

“I was truly devastated,” she recalled. “I can clearly recall the moment, in my early twenties, when I decided that I would devote all my efforts to finding ways to lessen the suffering of other families facing similar situations.”

After two decades in research, Dr. Llorens-Martín is making strides toward that goal by studying new ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s. Using a unique library of brain samples collected over the last 14 years, she’s exploring how changes in the brain’s learning and memory centers might reveal new clues about the disease. Her work could find novel drug targets and help catch Alzheimer’s earlier, offering hope for the millions of families affected by dementia.

New brain cells are key for memory

Dr. Llorens-Martín’s research centers on the hippocampus, a brain structure critical for memory. The hippocampus is thought to be one of the only regions of the brain that can generate new brain cells into adulthood, a process called neurogenesis. Many neuroscientists believe neurogenesis plays a key role in learning and memory.

“I firmly believe that the human brain holds an extraordinary capacity for remodeling and adaptation to our changing aging bodies throughout life,” Dr. Llorens-Martín said. “I am also convinced that exploiting the intrinsic regenerative potential of our brains is a promising avenue for the treatment (or prevention) of many as-yet incurable conditions.”

In Alzheimer’s, research suggests that neurogenesis can become impaired, resulting in fewer new cells being produced in the hippocampus. Dr. Llorens-Martín wants to know why this happens—and hopefully, how to stop or even reverse it.

Hunting for early clues of Alzheimer’s

She’s taking an innovative approach, analyzing exceptionally well-preserved human brain samples with the latest tools, from genetic sequencing to advanced imaging and AI algorithms. By focusing on the environment around brain cells, which may turn toxic in Alzheimer’s, her team hopes to find early warning signs, or biomarkers, of the disease. Biomarkers are critical because they allow doctors to identify at-risk people years before symptoms even appear, when preventive treatments can make the biggest difference. Her research could also reveal new genetic risk factors, giving families the knowledge they need to make informed choices about their health.

Beyond prevention, this work could also open new doors for treatment. By pinpointing which brain cells are most vulnerable in Alzheimer’s, Dr. Llorens-Martín’s research could highlight entirely new targets for drug development.

Fueling discoveries that bring hope to millions

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 7 million Americans, and that number is expected to rise in the years ahead. Yet treatments remain limited, and no cure exists. Alzheimer’s Disease Research donors are helping change that story. By supporting the work of pioneering scientists like Dr. Llorens-Martín, they are driving the discoveries that could lead to earlier detection, new therapies, and, ultimately, relief for families around the world.

“I am confident that the efforts made by so many scientists and labs around the world will soon bear tangible results and will end with the suffering of many families, patients, and caregivers,” Dr. Llorens-Martín said. “I am especially grateful to BrightFocus Foundation’s [Alzheimer’s Disease Research program] donors for allowing me and my lab to contribute to the Foundation’s mission. We will devote all our passion and hard work to fight this devastating, as-yet incurable condition together, in the firm belief that this is the way through which such unfair suffering will come to an end.”

You are making an impact. With your support, Alzheimer’s Disease Research is funding cutting-edge research worldwide, bringing hope to millions. Keep the momentum going—learn how to get involved.