Posts

Study identifies molecular signal for maintaining adult neuron

Now, research led by a Johns Hopkins University biologist sheds light on the subject, potentially pointing the way to a better understanding of how the structure of nerve cells in the adult hippocampus may deteriorate, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. "It's literally a black box," said Rejji Kuruvilla, an associate professor in the Department of Biology who led the research team, referring to the biochemical signaling systems that support the neurons in the adult brain. "To get a handle on repairing the adult brain, you first need to know what those signals are." In a paper in the journal  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , Kuruvilla and eight other scientists from two research institutions report that a protein that has primarily been studied for its role in early animal development also plays a surprising role in maintaining the structure of hippocampal neurons in adult mice. Chih-Ming Chen, a...

In Alzheimer's, excess tau protein damages brain's GPS

Image
It is a grid cell from the entorhinal cortex (EC) of the mouse mind, firing repeatedly and uniformly in a grid-like sample. When a mouse strikes by way of its surroundings, grid cells are activated, with every cell representing a particular location. This creates a triangular coordinate system that permits for spatial navigation. A number of grid cells create a triangular coordinate system that permits for spatial navigation. The buildup of tau protein within the mind of a mouse mannequin of Alzheimer's illness was proven to disrupt the operate of grid cells, inflicting issues with navigation. The findings explains why Alzheimer's sufferers are inclined to wander and get misplaced. Credit score: Lab of Karen Duff, PhD, Columbia College Medical Heart Columbia College Medical Heart (CUMC) researchers have found that the spatial disorientation that res...

Meditation and music may help reverse early memory loss in adults at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

In this randomized controlled trial, 60 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a condition that may represent a preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease, were assigned to either a beginner meditation (Kirtan Kriya) or music listening program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day for 12 weeks. As detailed in a paper recently published by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease , both the meditation and music groups showed marked and significant improvements in subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance at 3 months. These included domains of cognitive functioning most likely to be affected in preclinical and early stages of dementia (e.g., attention, executive function, processing speed, and subjective memory function). The substantial gains observed in memory and cognition were maintained or further increased at 6 months (3 months post-intervention). As explained in the research team's previous paper (J Alzheimer's Dis. 52 (4): 1277-12...

Common cause of both neurological diseases such as dementia and motor neuron diseases

Shortly before Wang received that call, he had published a paper in  Nature Medicine  (2016) in which he and his colleagues had shown that the symptoms of ALS in mice could be completely reversed by the infusion of a small-molecule peptide, PM1. Wang showed that PM1, an inhibitor of a mutated, dysfunctional protein, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), could alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal loss, and could significantly improve motor and cognitive function in previously impaired mice. Wang is troubled by the fact that PM1 is not a viable drug in humans and that he cannot yet lend a hand to the troubled father. However, he is confident that there are other safe and effective drugs that could mimic the actions of PM1. He just has to find one, in a hurry. Wang's team published a study in the January 2017 issue of  Molecular Therapy  that is seen as confirming the relevance of this neurotoxic pathway, according to an accompanying editorial by Eloise...

Novel radiotracer measures olfactory neurons in animal models

"Neuroflux is the first radiotracer to specifically target the adult-regenerative olfactory sensory neurons that reside within the nasal cavity," said Genevieve Van de Bittner, PhD, an investigator in the Martinos Center and lead author of the  Journal of Clinical Investigation  paper. "This is particularly exciting because our sense of smell is enabled by this specific cell population. Olfactory dysfunction is commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and is often a measurable sign of these diseases prior to the onset of their cardinal symptoms. In addition, studies have shown that the five-year mortality rate for older adults with olfactory dysfunction is higher than are rates for adults with heart failure, diabetes, or cancer. Using this imaging technology, we may be able to capture more precise and objective measurements of olfactory dysfunction and better understand how changes in these sensory neuro...

Cell disposal faults could contribute to Parkinson's, study finds

he research, led by academics at The University of Nottingham and published in the journal  Cell Death and Disease , centres on problems with mitochondria -- the powerhouses which produce energy within a cell. The results support previous evidence that patients with Parkinson's Disease have faults with brain mitochondria which contributes to dysfunction and death within their neurons. Dr Lynn Bedford, in the University's School of Life Sciences, said: "The study highlights the importance of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) for healthy mitochondria . The UPS is like a waste disposal system that removes small unwanted proteins from inside cells. "If waste is not removed it will build up over time and become toxic, causing cells to go wrong and eventually die." Faults in this system may play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's because they are caused by the death of neurons -- the network through...

A brain wide chemical signal that enhances memory

Image
New analysis might result in methods of enhancing cognitive operate to counteract the consequences of illnesses corresponding to Alzheimer's and schizophrenia, in addition to enhancing reminiscence in wholesome individuals. Credit score: © Maxim Pavlov / Fotolia How does heightened consideration enhance our psychological capability? That is the query tackled by new analysis revealed immediately within the journal  Cell Reviews , which reveals a chemical sign launched throughout the mind in response to consideration demanding or arousing conditions. The brand new discoveries point out how present medicine used within the therapy of Alzheimer's, designed to spice up this chemical sign, counter the signs of dementia. The outcomes might additionally result in new methods of enhancing cognitive operate to counteract the consequences of illnesses correspon...