Neurodegenerative Diseases

Nitric oxide can alter brain function

harminka — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:55:57 -0600

Research from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester shows that nitric oxide (NO) can change the computational ability of the brain. This finding has implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and our understanding of brain function more generally.

Novel therapeutic compounds for neurodegenerative conditions

harminka — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:33:20 -0500

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disrupt the quality of life for patients, put a tremendous burden on family caregivers, and cost society billions of dollars annually.

Iron-moving malfunction may underlie neurodegenerative diseases, aging

harminka — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:46:42 -0500

A glitch in the ability to move iron around in cells may underlie a disease known as Type IV mucolipidosis (ML4) and the suite of symptoms---mental retardation, poor vision and diminished motor abilities---that accompany it, new research at the University of Michigan shows.

Key protein molecule linked to diverse human chronic inflammatory diseases

harminka — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:11:28 -0500

Liwu Li, associate professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech, has revealed a common connection between the cellular innate immunity network and human chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Type 2 Diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Intrabody can mop up mutant protein in Huntington's disease model

harminka — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:47:25 -0500

Scientists have created a tool for mopping up the clumps of mutant protein that drive neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease. Emory University researchers engineered a virus to make an intracellular antibody or "intrabody" against huntingtin, the protein whose mutant forms poison the brain cells of people with Huntington's.

RNA toxicity contributes to neurodegenerative disease

harminka — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:20:07 -0500

Expanding on prior research performed at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn biologists have determined that faulty RNA, the blueprint that creates mutated, toxic proteins, contributes to a family of neurodegenerative disorders in humans.

Gene therapy slows progression of neurodegenerative disease in children

harminka — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:21:18 -0500

Gene therapy to replace the faulty CLN2 gene, which causes a neurodegenerative disease that is fatal by age 8-12 years, was able to slow significantly the rate of neurologic decline in treated children, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the May 2008 issue (Vol. 19 No. 5) of Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Potential in yeast for selecting Lou Gehrig's disease drugs

harminka — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:31:51 -0500

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are developing a novel approach to screen for drugs to combat neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, using yeast cells. In recent months a number of mutations have been found in a disease protein called TDP-43, which is implicated in ALS and certain types of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Leaky blood vessels open up nerve cells to toxic assault in Lou Gehrig's disease

harminka — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:23:40 -0500

Leaky blood vessels that lose their ability to protect the spinal cord from toxins may play a role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to research published in the April issue of Nature Neuroscience.

Rusty worms in the brain

harminka — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:58:07 -0600

Iron is vital to human life; for example, it is a component of hemoglobin, the substance that makes our blood red and supplies our cells with oxygen. However, iron can also cause heavy damage; it is thought that iron deposits in the brain contribute to certain forms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons’s, Huntington’ s, and Alzheimer’s.

Prions link cholesterol to neurodegeneration

harminka — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:31:29 -0600

Prion infection of neurons increases the free cholesterol content in cell membranes. A new study published in the online open access journal BMC Biology suggests that disturbances in membrane cholesterol may be the mechanism by which prions cause neurodegeneration and could point to a role for cholesterol in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Imaging study reveals rapid formation of Alzheimer's-associated plaques

harminka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:00:18 -0600

The amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients may form much more rapidly than previously expected.