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neurodegenerative diseases

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2020·3 min read

Researchers unravel protein mystery of three brain diseases

Researchers have identified two different shapes of alpha-synuclein associated with multiple systems atrophy (MSA) and Lewy body dementia. The structure of the protein is helical in MSA, causing the symptoms to occur more quickly and aggressively. In Lewy body dementia, the protein takes on a cylindrical form.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 29, 2020·4 min read

APOE4 triggers early breakdowns in the blood-brain barrier

APOE4, a gene implicated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, triggers leaks in the blood-brain barrier. The damage to capillaries APOE4 causes correlates with increased levels of cyclophilin, a protein that causes the inflammation that is a signature of early Alzheimer's.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 27, 2020·3 min read

More evidence Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut

Enteric neurons appear to play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease. The findings support the hypothesis and previous studies that the neurodegenerative disease may start in the gut before spreading to the brain. Researchers also found oligodendrocytes were affected during the early stages of Parkinson's, even before the loss of dopaminergic neurons.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 27, 2020·2 min read

Reducing early brain inflammation could slow Alzheimer’s progression

Reducing neuroinflammation in the brain before cognitive impairment becomes apparent can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 23, 2020·5 min read

New blood test for Alzheimer’s developed

A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer's disease measures a specific variant of the tau protein. Early results show the test has a good capacity to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other tauopathies.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 23, 2020·4 min read

Which foods do you eat together? How you combine them may raise dementia risk

In the case of dementia, it might not be what you eat, but more of what combination of foods you eat, which increases your risk of developing the neurodegenerative disorder. Researchers found those whose diets consisted mostly of highly-processed meats, starchy foods, and sugary snacks were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia later in life that those who consumed healthier foods.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 20, 2020·5 min read

Researchers delay onset of ALS

Increasing the activity of interneurons in later 5 of the primary motor cortex in mouse models of ALS effectively slowed the onset of the disease.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 20, 2020·4 min read

Further evidence autoimmunity plays a role in Parkinson’s disease

T cells that react to alpha-synuclein are most abundant in the early stages of Parkinson's disease but tend to disappear as the disease progresses. Signs of autoimmunity can appear in Parkinson's patients up to ten years before a diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease. The detection of T cell response could be an early biomarker for Parkinson's, long before the physical symptoms begin to manifest.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 15, 2020·4 min read

When damaged, the adult brain repairs itself by going back to the beginning

Mouse models of corticospinal injuries reveal adult neurons begin a natural regeneration process by reverting back to an embryonic state. The regeneration is sustained with the help of a gene more commonly associated with Huntington's disease.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 14, 2020·4 min read

Being “right-brained” or “left-brained” comes down to molecular switches

Epigenetic regulation controls whether certain genes on each side of the brain are switched on or off. The findings shed light on why Parkinson's disease often affects one side of the body before the other.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 13, 2020·7 min read

Gene variant staves off Alzheimer’s in some people

Carriers of one copy of the longevity associated klotho gene reduces Alzheimer's risks by 30% for those with genetic risk factors for the neurodegenerative disease.