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Tau

This shows an old couple walking down a country lane

·July 16, 2019·2 min read

Risk and progression of Alzheimer’s disease differ by gender

The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is increased, and progression more rapid in women due to larger brain-wide accumulation and acceleration in the spread of tau.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 9, 2019·4 min read

Sorting protein in neurons defends against neurodegenerative disease

VPS35 is a novel critical component of tau metabolism and the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 8, 2019·3 min read

Indications why older people are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease

Using a gene vector, researchers channeled the blueprint of the human tau protein into different aged mice. After a period of twelve weeks, the tau protein spread twice as fast in older mice than the younger cohort. Findings shed light on why Alzheimer's is predominantly an age-related neurodegenerative disease.

This shows a brain with tau deposits marked

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 27, 2019·8 min read

Disrupted sleep in one’s 50s, 60s raises risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Sleep disruptions during middle age may be a potential biomarker for developing Alzheimer's disease later in life. Researchers found those who experienced sleep problems in their 40s and 50s had more amyloid beta accumulation in their brains later in life. Those whose sleep problems started in their 50s and 60s had increased levels of tau. Additionally, higher levels of tau were discovered in the brains of those who lacked synchronized brain waves associated with a good night's sleep.

This shows amyloid beta, tau and microglia

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 24, 2019·4 min read

Alzheimer’s missing link ID’d, answering what tips brain’s decline

Study in mice and humans reveals reinforcing the activity of microglia could slow, or potentially halt, the proliferation of Tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 24, 2019·2 min read

Alzheimer’s disease: Sex affects tau accumulation in the brain

Women with the ApoE e4 genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's are more susceptible to tau accumulation in the brain than men.

This shows brain scans of the hippocampus during sleep

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 17, 2019·3 min read

Sleep history predicts late-life Alzheimer’s pathology

Your sleep history during middle age may predict Alzheimer's pathology later in life. A decrease in sleep quality between 50 and 70 years of age is associated with higher levels of tau and amyloid beta in the brain. Changes in brain activity and quality of sleep could be a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 17, 2019·4 min read

Antioxidant puts up fight, but loses battle against protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease

During early Alzheimer's disease, SOD1 initially weakens levels of Tau protein. However, as the disease progresses, the antioxidant becomes less effective at protecting the brain against neurodegeneration.

This shows a virus like protein structure

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 11, 2019·4 min read

Memory Preserver: Researchers Develop Vaccine That Could Protect Against Alzheimer’s

Researchers have engineered a vaccine using virus-like particles that target Tau tangles in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Following the administration of the vaccine, the mice developed antibodies that cleared tau proteins, with the response lasting for a month. The mice also showed improvements in memory based tests and had less brain shrinkage than their peers who did not receive the vaccine. This suggests the vaccine prevented apoptosis. Researchers hope to move the vaccine to human clinical trials in the future.

This shows someone erasing a drawing of a brain

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 14, 2019·4 min read

Brain changes linked with Alzheimer’s up to 30 years before symptoms appear

Researchers have identified average levels of biological and anatomical brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease over thirty years before symptoms appear. In those with genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's, researchers found changes in cognitive performance up to 15 years before becoming symptomatic. Changes in Tau levels in the cerebral spinal fluid appeared up to 34 years before dementia symptoms occurred, and physical changes to the medial temporal lobe were apparent up to 9 years before cognitive impairment was apparent.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 7, 2019·6 min read

Why visual stimulation may work in fight against Alzheimer’s: Mouse study

Inducing gamma oscillations with visual stimulation via a process known as gamma entrainment using sensory stimuli, or GENUS, was shown to reduce amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau in mouse models of dementia. Providing GENUS daily during the early stages of neurodegeneration helps preserve neural and synaptic density across multiple brain areas and improves cognitive performance for learning and spatial memory tasks.