An international research team has now characterised iron species associated with the formation of amyloid protein plaques in the human brain — abnormal clusters of proteins in the brain. The formation of these plaques is associated with toxicity which causes cell and tissue death, leading to mental deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease patients. The researchers found…
Category: Neurology
Dysfunctional Astrocyte Metabolism Implicated In Huntington's Disease
A previously unknown error in the transport of glutamine between astrocytes and neurons in the brain of mice with Huntington’s disease has been found by researchers from the University of Copenhagen. The researchers believe it is a relevant area on which to focus the effort of developing a future treatment for the disease. The study…
Autism-associated CHD8 Required For Oligodendrocyte Development
CHD8, a gene already linked to a subset of people with autism spectrum disorder, is critical to healthy neuronal connections in the developing brain, new preclinical research shows. The work also shows the gene’s loss can harm those connections to help fuel the complex developmental condition. Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center report that…
Why Solvents Can Affect Brain Health Even At Low Levels Of Exposure
The health effects associated with occupational exposure to solvents have long been recognised. But despite greater health and safety awareness in general, our research suggests that workers from some industries are still at risk. Several studies have shown both acute (short-term) and chronic (persistent) effects, particularly on the central nervous system, in workers exposed to…
Key Parkinson’s Biomarker Can Be Detected In The Retina
Build-up of a protein known as alpha-synuclein in the retina is a key Parkinson’s biomarker that could help detect the degree of severity of the disease, a new study notes. The work, part of a broader scientific project funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, was led by Dr. Nicolás Cuenca at the University of…
Vitamin B3 Ameliorates Mitochondrial Function In Parkinson’s
Nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3, may offer a possible treatment for Parkinson’s disease symptoms, a new study indicates. A team of researchers headed by Dr. Michela Deleidi at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the University of Tübingen is behind the work. It is still not clear precisely what leads to…
People Who Take Immunosuppressants Less Likely To Develop Parkinson’s
People who take drugs that suppress the immune system are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. The findings suggest that a person’s own immune system helps nudge him or her down the path toward Parkinson’s. Restraining the immune system with drugs potentially could prevent the neurological disorder, which is characterized…
Why People With The APOE4 Gene Have Higher Alzheimer’s Risk
People with a gene variant called APOE4 have a higher risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease: APOE4 is three times more common among Alzheimer’s patients than it is among the general population. However, little is known about why this version of the APOE gene, which is normally involved in metabolism and transport of fatty molecules…
Molecular Network Approach Provides Alzheimer’s Pathology Insights
A map of the molecular network in the aging brain has been created a team of scientists from several leading research institutions in the ongoing quest for a successful treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular networks are cellular and subcellular structures in an organism and the structures’ physical interaction between molecules, RNA, or proteins. The researchers…