Category Health/Medical

Asa Abeliovich, Herve Rhinn et al. Genetic determinants of aging in human brain. Cell Systems, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2017.02.009 Stock image credit: Getty Images

Genetic variant accelerates normal brain aging in older people by up to 12 years. Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have discovered a common genetic variant that greatly impacts normal brain aging, starting at around age 65, and may modify the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. The findings could point toward a novel biomarker for the evaluation of anti-aging interventions and highlight potential new targets for the prevention or treatment of age-associated brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

“If you look at a group of seniors, some will look older than their peers and some will look younger,” sai...

The trans-synaptic GluRδ2-Cbln1-neurexin triad is essential for synapse formation

BIDMC scientists determined how a gene linked to one common form of autism works in a specific population of brain cells to impair sociability. The research, published in the journal Nature, reveals the neurobiological control of sociability and could represent important first steps toward interventions for patients with autism. Anderson and colleagues focused on gene UBE3A, multiple copies of which causes a form of autism in humans (called isodicentric chromosome 15q).Conversely, the lack of this same gene in humans leads to a developmental disorder called Angelman’s syndrome, characterized by increased sociability...

1. Signaling pathways and Sequence of Events induced by injury. Approximate time sequences after injury are given within brackets. Abbreviations: NF-kB (nuclear factor-kB), TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor-β1).
2. Burns from Barbeque Fire:
(upper panel): Second degree burns from a barbeque fire before treatment with curcumin gel.
(lower panel): Rapid healing 5 days after curcumin gel applied hourly.
3. Improvement one day later after hourly application of curcumin gel. Pain and blistering were much improved.

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These are primary cortical neurons cultured on the surface of an array of optoelectronic nanowires. Here a neuron is pulling the nanowires, indicating the the cell is doing well on this material. Credit: UC San Diego

With high-resolution retinal prosthesis built from nanowires and wireless electronics, engineers are one step closer to restoring neurons’ ability to respond to light. The researchers demonstrated this response to light in a rat retina interfacing with a prototype of the device in vitro. The technology could help tens of millions of people worldwide suffering from neurodegenerative diseases that affect eyesight, including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and loss of vision due to diabetes.

Despite tremendous advances in the development of retinal prostheses over the ...