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Alzheimer’s disease

The image shows a rat holding a hershey's kiss.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 27, 2013·3 min read

Discovery About Animal Memory Opens Doors to Research on Memory Impairment Diseases

A new study offers evidence of source memory in nonhuman animals.

The image shows the neural projections formed from a mouse embryonic stem cell. The caption best describes this image.

Featured Genetics

·February 26, 2013·2 min read

Sweet News for Stem Cell’s ‘Holy Grail’

Using a sugar-coated scaffold, researchers move closer to unlocking the therapeutic use of stem cells to treat a wide range of diseases from Alzheimer's to diabetes.

The image shows pencil drawings of sea lampreys by Alexander Francis Lydon.

Featured Genetics

·February 25, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Find Genes Linked to Human Neurological Disorders in Sea Lamprey Genome

Scientists have identified several genes linked to human neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury, in the sea lamprey. The lamprey has large, identified neurons in its brain and spinal cord, making it an excellent model to study regeneration at the single cell-level.

The image shows a comparative brain PET scan of a person with alzheimer's and one without the disease.

Featured Genetics

·February 20, 2013·6 min read

Genome-Wide Imaging Study Identifies New Gene Associated with Alzheimer’s Plaques

Researchers combined genetic data with neuroimaging in order to identify genes associated with amyloid plaque deposits in Alzheimer's disease patients. The study is believed to be the first genome-wide association study of plaque deposits using a specialized PET scan tracer that binds to amyloid.

The image shows brain scans of Alzheimer's patients.

Featured Neurology

·February 19, 2013·2 min read

It’s Not Just Amyloid: White Matter Hyperintensities and Alzheimer’s Disease

A new study suggest that along with amyloid deposits, white matter hyperintensities may be a second necessary factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

The image shows a chart of the activation and antagonists of NMDA receptors.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·February 19, 2013·2 min read

Rewriting a Receptor’s Role

Researchers upend a long-held view about the basic functioning of a key receptor molecule involved in signaling between neurons. The study describes how a compound linked to Alzheimer's disease impacts NMDA receptors and weakens synaptic connections between brain cells.

The image is a pencil drawing of the hippocampus.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 19, 2013·3 min read

Reading the Minds of Mice

Researchers recently developed a system for observing real-time brain activity in a live mouse. The device could prove useful in studying new treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The image is a drawing which outlines what happens to the brain when concussion occurs.

Featured Neurology

·February 18, 2013·3 min read

Evidence Shows Concussions Require Long-Term Follow-up for Players

New research into concussions sustained during sports shows damage to the brain can persist for decades after an original or head trauma. The long-term consequences of concussions include memory loss, attention deficits and motor control problems.

The image shows a PET scan of a brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 15, 2013·2 min read

Neuronal Activity Induces Tau Release from Healthy Neurons

Researchers discover neuronal activity can stimulate tau release from healthy neurons in the absence of cell death. The study shows treatment of neurons with known biological signaling molecules increases the release of tau into the culture medium.

The image shows a 3D schematic structure of IGF-1.

Featured Neurology

·February 14, 2013·3 min read

Low Protein Diet Slows Alzheimer’s in Mice

Researchers discovered that a low protein diet can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in mice. By cycling between a normal and protein restricted diet, researchers noted both improvement in memory and a slowing in the advancement of the disease.

The image shows a coronal MRI scan of a patient with ALS.

Featured Neurology

·February 12, 2013·3 min read

Novel Protein May Help Detect Lou Gehrig’s Disease and Dementia

Researchers discover an abnormal protein that accumulates in the brains of patients affected with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The findings have uncovered a potentially new therapeutic target and biomarker that would allow clinicians to confirm diagnosis of the diseases.

The image shows the structure of protein LRRK2.

Featured Genetics

·February 6, 2013·4 min read

Study Points to Possible Cause and Treatment for Non-familial Parkinson’s

Researchers identify a protein trafficking defect within brain cells that may underlie common non-familial forms of Parkinson’s disease. The study implicates two genetic variants that disrupt protein sorting in neurons.