A recent multi-centre study has established that synapse loss in Alzheimer’s disease is driven by a specific signalling pathway. This pathway is called the Wnt-planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling pathway and it may be pivotal to the progressive neurodegeneration seen in the disease. The researchers also discovered that this process can be inhibited by the…
Tag: Alzheimer’s
White Matter Degradation in Alzheimer’s Disconnection Syndrome
A correlation between the integrity of white matter tracts and the ability to calculate finances has been identified in a new study. The research, from the Center for Vital Longevity at The University of Texas at Dallas, is among the first to investigate how degraded connections in certain parts of the adult brain might affect…
Tau And Amyloid Beta Both Present In Early Alzheimer's Stage
Two molecules assumed to contribute to the disease process are both present at very early stages of Alzheimer’s in an area of the brain that is involved in memory formation and information processing, a study has confirmed for the first time. The finding has implications for the development of new drugs, and may also provide…
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Implicated In Alzheimer's Disease
The tragic case of Auguste Deter might have vanished into the recesses of medical history, but for one fact. Her doctor, Alois Alzheimer, made a thorough examination of her medical condition, including her excised brain, discovering the telltale amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles characteristic of her illness. Auguste Deter was the first person diagnosed with…
Hippocampus, Amygdala Asymmetries May Track Alzheimer's Progression
A unique approach to analyzing brain structure that focuses on the shape instead of the size of features may allow identification of individuals in early pre-symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators using advanced computational tools to analyze data from standard MRI scans report that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease,…
Blood-brain Barrier Leakage Linked To Alzheimer’s Disease
In a new study using contrast-enhanced MRI, researchers have identified leakages in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of people with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The findings suggest increased BBB permeability may be a key mechanism in the early stages of the disease. Researchers used contrast-enhanced MRI to compare 16 early AD patients with 17 healthy age-matched…
Could Microglia Protect Against Alzheimer's Damage?
Groups of immune cells in the brain heretofore associated with Alzheimer’s actually protect against the disease by containing the spread of damaging amyloid plaques, a new Yale University School of Medicine study shows. The findings give further support for the idea that inflammation byproducts of these immune cells are probably not a major culprit in…
Facial Perception Impairment In Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s not only steals people’s memories but also their ability to recognize faces, which widens the chasm between people with this disease and their loved ones. A recent study has demonstrated that, beyond causing memory problems, Alzheimer’s disease also impairs visual face perception. The finding may help families better understand their loved one’s inevitable difficulties…
Alzheimer's Disease: Poor Sleep May Increase Your Risk
By triggering a brain-clogging compound that in turn interrupts sleep, poor sleep may increase people’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. Sleep disruption could be one of the missing pieces in the puzzle of how a protein called beta-amyloid starts its damage long before people have trouble with memory, researchers reported. Dr. Matthew Walker…