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Huntington’s disease

This is an image of a striatal neuron with activated Dendra2 protein.

·July 21, 2013·5 min read

For a Healthy Brain, Don’t Let the Trash Pile Up

A new study indicates that quickly clearing away defective proteins in the brain could help prevent some neurodegenerative disorders.

The illustration is a brain slice with advanced stage alzheimer's.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Videos

·June 28, 2013·5 min read

Scientists View ‘Protein Origami’ to Help Understand, Prevent Certain Diseases

Using sophisticated imaging techniques, researchers observe a molecular protein folding process which could help better understand and treat neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.

The image shows the location of the nucleus accumbens in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 7, 2013·4 min read

Researchers Focus on a Brain Protein and an Antibiotic to Block Cocaine Craving

A new study shows that the GLT1 protein plays a critical role in the craving for cocaine which develops after only a few days of cocaine use. However, exposure to ceftriaxone, an antibiotic used to treat meningitis, decreases cocaine cravings.

Images shows new medium spiny neurons (in green) integrating into brain's existing networks

Featured Genetics

·June 6, 2013·5 min read

Scientists Coax Brain to Regenerate Cells Lost in Huntington’s Disease

Researchers mobilize the brain's native stem cells to replenish medium spiny neurons which are lost in Huntington's disease.

The image shows defective protein cells. The caption best describes the image.

Featured Genetics

·February 26, 2013·5 min read

Researchers Find Controlling Element of Huntington’s Disease

Researchers discover a three molecule complex could be a target for treating Huntington's Disease, a genetic and currently incurable brain disease which causes movement disorders and dementia.

Brain image with the basal ganglia and other brain areas.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2013·2 min read

NIH Study Advances Understanding of Movement Control

Voluntary movements involve the coordinated activation of two brain pathways that connect parts of deep brain structures called the basal ganglia, according to a study in mice.

Genetics

·September 18, 2012·1 min read

New Findings on Protein Misfolding

Researchers identified 21 proteins that specifically bind to a protein called ataxin-1. Twelve of these proteins enhance the misfolding of ataxin-1 and thus promote the formation of harmful protein aggregate structures, whereas nine of them prevent the misfolding.

Featured Neurology

·September 17, 2012·3 min read

Toxic Protein Build-up in Blood Shines Light on Fatal Brain Disease

A new light-based technique for measuring levels of the toxic protein that causes Huntington's disease (HD) has been used to demonstrate that the protein builds up gradually in blood cells.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·July 11, 2012·3 min read

Two Proteins Offer a Clearer Way to Treat Huntington’s Disease

HD mice crossbred with mice that produced greater levels of PGC-1alpha showed dramatic improvement. Production of misfolded proteins was essentially eliminated and the mice behaved normally. “Degeneration of brain cells is prevented. Neurons don’t die,” said La Spada.