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prion disease

This shows a rendition of proteins clumping.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·January 6, 2025·3 min read

Lipid Anchors Hold Key to Preventing Protein Aggregation in Prion Diseases

A lipid anchor on nerve cell membranes stabilizes prion proteins (PrPC) and prevents their pathological aggregation into forms linked to prion diseases. Researchers developed new in vitro and cell models to study how membrane anchoring inhibits these harmful transformations.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·4 min read

Prion Disease Mutations Impact Synapses Before Symptoms Appear

New research reveals that prion disease mutations can alter the structure of neuron synapses long before symptoms emerge. Scientists studied neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of patients with the E200K prion protein mutation, showing changes in neuron-to-neuron contact sites even in the absence of misfolded prion proteins.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·December 4, 2023·4 min read

The Role of Protein Misfolding in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases share a common factor: protein misfolding and deposits in the brain. Misfolded proteins can lead to toxic activity or the loss of the protein's physiological function, causing damage to neurons.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 15, 2021·3 min read

Crucial Step in Formation of Deadly Brain Diseases Discovered

Study sheds light on what causes normal proteins to convert to a diseased form associated with CJD and Kuru.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 1, 2019·9 min read

Alzheimer’s disease is a ‘double-prion disorder’

Self-propagating amyloid and tau act as prions in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Higher levels of the prions in human brain samples were strongly correlated with early onset of Alzheimer's and death at a younger age.

Featured Neurology

·May 17, 2018·3 min read

Microglia Are Key Defenders Against Prion Disease

A new study reveals the role microglia plays in helping to protect the brain against prion infection.

Image shows alpha-synuclein amyloid fibrils.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 14, 2017·3 min read

Molecular Link Between Parkinson’s and Prion Diseases Discovered

Researchers detail the complex interaction between alpha synuclein and the prion protein PrPc.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·December 14, 2016·4 min read

Gut Cells Are Gatekeepers For Infectious Brain Diseases

A new study reports M cells found in the lining of the gut can help to protect the against prion infections.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 14, 2016·5 min read

Fruit Fly Model of Brain Disease Could Lead to Blood Test for vCJD

A new fruit fly model in development could lead to low cost blood tests to help diagnose a deadly prion disease.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 11, 2016·3 min read

Putting Autophagy Under the Microscope

Researchers have been able to capture autophagy in super resolution.

Featured Neurology

·August 9, 2016·4 min read

Cascade of Events Leading to Prion Disease Described

A new study describes two distinct stages of prion disease.

Featured

·November 3, 2015·5 min read

Alzheimer’s May Be a Collection of Different Diseases That Should be Treated Separately

Researchers report Alzheimer's disease may actually be a collection of different disease that should be treated independently with different approaches.