A new drug reported by researchers has the potential to slow Alzheimer’s disease and reverse memory symptoms. The drug affects multiple cell signalling pathways in the brain, including a growth factor, that may cause the beneficial effects. A drug developed by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, known as J147, reverses memory deficits… [Continue Reading]
Genetic Markers Linked to Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Hint at Potential Treatments
April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Alzheimer’s disease is linked to the formation of protein plaques in the brain, but how these plaques form is still not clear. A new study has found key genetic markers that are linked to plaque formation and disease progression, and regulate the levels of the proteins that aggregate into plaques. People who have a buildup… [Continue Reading]
Drugs Identified to Treat Prion Diseases Such As Creutzfeldt-Jakob
April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“Prion diseases” take their name from a specific class of misfolded proteins, prions, that cause harmful effects to the body. Including diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (the human version of mad cow disease), they have had no effective treatment to date. A new, high-profile study has identified two drugs that may be useful to fight… [Continue Reading]
Sleep Problems Precede Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
March 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
New research suggests that sleep troubles are one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, preceding memory loss. Work in animal models of the disease had found that plaques in the brain are linked to disrupted sleep, and a new study in humans has found that those in preclinical phases of the disease have poorer… [Continue Reading]
Green Tea Molecule Prevents Misfolding of Brain Proteins in Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
March 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A molecule in green tea called EGCG can prevent brain proteins from misfolding, researchers have reported, a finding that has major implications for research on Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have found that the compound prevents the formation of protein aggregates, that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative disease. Researchers at the University of Michigan have… [Continue Reading]
New Mouse Model Helps Scientists Study Alzheimer’s Disease
March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the deposition of protein plaques in the brain. Researchers have now created a transgenic mouse line in which they can change the production of that protein, in order to study how the plaques form and might be prevented. Researchers at the University of Florida and The Johns Hopkins University have… [Continue Reading]
Keeping Up Mental Health Just As Important As Physical Health
February 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Mental health is discussed much less than physical health, experts say, and we need to spend more effort on keeping the brain in shape. Mental health issues have a major impact on people’s well-being, and we should all pay attention to warding off dementia, researchers advise. We all know the importance of keeping healthy and… [Continue Reading]
New Test for Huntington Disease Quicker and More Accurate
February 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The neurodegenerative condition Huntington Disease runs in families, and symptoms appear mid-life. A new test for the disease has just been developed, and gives results more quickly and accurately than current methods. A new test may help to streamline genetic testing for Huntington Disease (HD) by generating accurate results, avoiding unnecessary additional testing, and improving… [Continue Reading]
Secondhand Smoke Linked to Dementia Risk
January 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Exposure to secondhand smoke significantly increases the risk of severe dementia, a new study shows. Researchers suggest that limiting smoke exposure, particularly in the elderly, could reduce the number of cases or the severity of the condition. Passive smoking, also known as ‘second-hand’ smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is known to cause serious cardiovascular… [Continue Reading]
Research Suggests Current Models of Memory Formation Are Not Correct
January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
In research that has implications for our basic understanding of brain function and diseases that affect memory, a group of scientists has shown that the current model of how we store memories may be incorrect. A study by Johns Hopkins researchers has shown that a widely accepted model of long-term memory formation — that it… [Continue Reading]