Acting upon the maintenance system of neurons alleviates disease sequelae in laboratory experiments.
Google Glass is Helping Scientists to Study Certain Brain Diseases
Using Google Glass, Siberian scientists are developing a prototype of a model to study an individual's proneness to certain brain diseases at an early stage.
Using Google Glass, Siberian scientists are developing a prototype of a model to study an individual's proneness to certain brain diseases at an early stage.
‘Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) impairs eye movements, locomotion, balance control, and speech. PSP belongs to a group of neurological diseases referred to as "tauopathies".’
PSP belongs to a group of neurological diseases referred to as "tauopathies". In these diseases, a molecule called "tau" forms clumps rather than stabilizing the cytoskeleton as it normally does. Affected neurons can degenerate or even perish. To prevent such events, pathological molecules are normally repaired or disposed of by the organism. The protein PERK is part of such a maintenance system. However, in PSP, this mechanism appears to be defective. In previous studies, Höglinger and his colleagues had found that the risk for PSP is associated with variants at the PERK gene, and that loss of PERK function induces tau pathology in humans. For the current study, they examined the functioning of this protein more closely, to see how its effects could be positively influenced. To this end, they investigated samples of brain tissue from deceased patients, cell cultures and mice with a genetic disposition for PSP. "We found that the disease sequelae decrease when PERK is activated with pharmaceuticals. That is to say: when its effect is enhanced," says Höglinger, who leads a research group at the DZNE's Munich site. "These results are still basic research and far from being ready for use in patients. However, our investigations show that PERK is an important part of the disease mechanism. Therefore, the protein could be a starting point for the development of new drugs."
Höglinger also sees potential for tackling diseases other than PSP. This is because PERK helps eliminate abnormal tau molecules, and these also occur in other brain diseases. "These results could have a broad relevance. Because defective tau molecules play an important role especially in Alzheimer's disease," the researcher says.
Fruit Fly Model Of Deadly Brain Disease Could Lead To Development Of Efficient Blood Tests
The current screening of blood products for vCJD prion infectivity, it is expensive and time consuming, and would require the use of a large number of animals.
The current screening of blood products for vCJD prion infectivity, it is expensive and time consuming, and would require the use of a large number of animals.
New Impetus Found for Treatment of Brain Diseases
In many neurodegenerative diseases it is TNF that makes the neurons die, so it seemed like a good idea to treat diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) or Alzheimer's with TNF inhibitors.
In many neurodegenerative diseases it is TNF that makes the neurons die, so it seemed like a good idea to treat diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) or Alzheimer's with TNF inhibitors.
Brain Disease Prevalence in Patients on Immunosuppressant Drugs Linked to Virus Mutation
Why people on immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune conditions have a higher incidence of an often-fatal brain disease may be linked to a mutation in a common virus.
Why people on immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune conditions have a higher incidence of an often-fatal brain disease may be linked to a mutation in a common virus.
