Brain cells depend on tau protein to form highways for the cell to receive nutrients and get rid of waste.
Risk Factors for Alzheimers Disease
Cognitively normal adults exhibiting atrophy of their temporal lobe or damage to blood vessels in the brain are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Cognitively normal adults exhibiting atrophy of their temporal lobe or damage to blood vessels in the brain are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
‘The degeneration of nerve cells due to chronic inflammation induced by the tau oligomers may be combated through the combination of anti-tau oligomer and anti-inflammatory therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer's and related diseases.’
"Early detection of Alzheimer's warning signs would allow for early intervention and prevention of neurodegeneration before major brain cell loss and cognitive decline occurs," said lead author Ashley Nilson, a neuroscience graduate student. "Using the retina for detecting AD and other neurodegenerative diseases would be non-invasive, inexpensive and could become a part of a normal screening done at patient checkups." UTMB researchers have previously found evidence that a toxic form of tau protein may underlie the early stages of Alzheimer's. Brain cells depend on tau protein to form highways for the cell to receive nutrients and get rid of waste. In some neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, the tau protein changes into a toxic form called tau oligomers and begins clumping into neurofibrillary tangles. When this happens, molecular nutrients can no longer move to where they are needed and the oligomers produce toxic effects leading to the eventual death of the brain cells.
It's becoming increasingly clear that inflammation within the brain plays an important role in Alzheimer's development and progression. Inflammation and loss of connections between nerves within the brain happen before the formation of the tangles that are characteristic of this disease. It's possible that the tau oligomers may be responsible for this inflammation.
Alzheimer�s Risk Increases With Loss of Y Chromosome
About one in five men over age 80 lose the Y chromosome from their blood cells and the condition is known a loss of Y, or LOY.
About one in five men over age 80 lose the Y chromosome from their blood cells and the condition is known a loss of Y, or LOY.
The results demonstrated that the toxic tau may induce inflammation in Alzheimer's. The toxic tau spreads between connected brain regions, which may initiate inflammation in these new regions. This situation can create a cycle of toxic tau, inflammation and cell death throughout the brain over time.
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First Case of Alzheimer�s Diagnosed in a HIV-Positive Patient
Chronic HIV infection and amyloid deposition with aging may represent a double-hit to the brain that results in progressive dementia.
Chronic HIV infection and amyloid deposition with aging may represent a double-hit to the brain that results in progressive dementia.
"Our findings suggest that the degeneration of nerve cells due to chronic inflammation induced by the tau oligomers may be combated through the combination of anti-tau oligomer and anti-inflammatory therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer's and related diseases," said senior author Rakez Kayed, associate professor in the UTMB Department of Neurology. "Our is continuing to expand our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases."
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Young Blood to Cure Decline of Aging Brain
A research showed that injections of juvenile mouse blood boosts learning and memory in older rodents, findings that hold the long-sought cure for the decline of ageing brain.
A research showed that injections of juvenile mouse blood boosts learning and memory in older rodents, findings that hold the long-sought cure for the decline of ageing brain.
