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neurodegenerative diseases

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2019·4 min read

‘Relaxed’ enzymes may be at the root of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

The severity of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is linked to the degree to which the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases enzyme is relaxed or extended.

This shows gait differences between men and women with PD

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 25, 2019·5 min read

How and why does Parkinson’s disease affect women and men differently?

Study highlights the role estrogen plays in the differences in the progression of Parkinson's disease between men and women.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 23, 2019·6 min read

Walking patterns can identify dementia type

People with two common types of dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, have unique walking patterns. The gait type signals subtle differences between the two disorders. Those with Lew body dementia change their steps more, varying the step time and length. They also display more asymmetry in movement compared to those with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say gait could be a clinical biomarker for dementia subtypes.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 23, 2019·2 min read

Critical role of brain circuits in improving learning and memory revealed

A newly identified neural network in the hippocampal formation plays a critical role in memory and object-location learning. The findings are highly relevant to learning and memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.

This shows a jogsaw puzzle with the word Alzheimer's written on it

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 17, 2019·4 min read

New piece of Alzheimer’s puzzle found

When injected into mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, two short peptides significantly improved memory, reduced inflammation, and lowered amyloid plaque buildup in the brain.

This is an illustration of amyloid beta in neurons

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 17, 2019·5 min read

Exercise could slow withering effects of Alzheimer’s

For those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, participating in aerobic exercise several times a week may slow neurodegeneration. Aerobic exercise reduced hippocampal atrophy in those with MCI.

This shows a woman wearing the TEMT head device

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 17, 2019·6 min read

Alzheimer’s memory loss reversed by new head device using electromagnetic waves

A new, non-invasive brain stimulation treatment shows promise in enhancing memories and cognitive function in those with Alzheimer's disease. Transcranial electromagnetic treatment (TEMT) increases functional connectivity within the cingulate cortex. TEMT is also able to penetrate the brain to break up amyloid-beta and tau deposits, slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 16, 2019·4 min read

Alzheimer’s disease risk gene APOE4 impairs function of brain immune cells

APOE4 increases the inflammatory response of human microglia while reducing cellular migration. The gene also impairs the metabolic activity of the immune cells. The findings show APOE4 has a profound impact on the basic functions of microglia.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 15, 2019·3 min read

How the eyes might be windows to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, have greater pupil dilation when taking cognitive tests than their cognitively normal peers. Task-evoked pupillary response may be a cost-effective, and low invasive screening test for those at genetic risk for Alzheimer's before the symptoms of the disease take hold.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 13, 2019·3 min read

What multilingual nuns can tell us about dementia

While being multilingual did not delay the onset of dementia for those at risk, nuns who spoke four or more languages were significantly less likely to develop dementia than those who spoke just one language.