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    Alzheimer’s disease tagged posts

    Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Reverses Genetic changes thought to spur the disease

    May 3, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    After treatment with riluzole, the brains of old rats showed more of a transporter molecule that removes excess glutamate, (green fluorescence, right) as compared to untreated rats (left). Credit: Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University/Molecular Psychiatry

    After treatment with riluzole, the brains of old rats showed more of a transporter molecule that removes excess glutamate, (green fluorescence, right) as compared to untreated rats (left). Credit: Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University/Molecular Psychiatry

    In new research a drug, riluzole, is capable of reversing key genetic changes associated with these conditions. “In aging and Alzheimer’s, the chemical signal glutamate can accumulate between neurons, damaging the circuitry,” Pereira says. “When we treated rats with riluzole, we saw a suite of changes. Perhaps most significantly, expression of molecules responsible for clearing excess glutamate returned to more youthful levels...

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    Early Abnormalities of Alzheimer’s disease: It takes 2 proteins to tango

    April 20, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Synergistic effect between [18F]florbetapir SUVR and CSF p-tau drives [18F]FDG uptake decline in limbic regions. Statistical parametric maps, after correcting for multiple comparisons (false discovery rate corrected at P<0.001), overlaid in a structural MRI scan, reveal areas in which 24-month [18F]FDG uptake decline occurs as a function of the synergistic interaction between baseline [18F]florbetapir SUVR and CSF p-tau measurements. Significant interactive effects were observed in the basal and mesial temporal, orbitofrontal, and anterior and posterior cingulate cortices. The analysis was corrected for age, gender and APOE ε4 status. CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; [18F]FDG, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; p-tau, phosphorylated tau; SUVR, standardized uptake value ratio.

    Synergistic effect between [18F]florbetapir SUVR and CSF p-tau drives [18F]FDG uptake decline in limbic regions. Statistical parametric maps, after correcting for multiple comparisons (false discovery rate corrected at P<0.001), overlaid in a structural MRI scan, reveal areas in which 24-month [18F]FDG uptake decline occurs as a function of the synergistic interaction between baseline [18F]florbetapir SUVR and CSF p-tau measurements. Significant interactive effects were observed in the basal and mesial temporal, orbitofrontal, and anterior and posterior cingulate cortices. The analysis was corrected for age, gender and APOE ε4 status...

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    Memory Suppressor Gene could hold key to new Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments

    April 14, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Authors of the new study included The Scripps Research Institute's (left to right) Research Associate Ze Liu, Research Associate Yunchao Gai and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience Ron Davis. Credit: Photo courtesy of The Scripps Research Institute.

    Authors of the new study included The Scripps Research Institute’s (left to right) Research Associate Ze Liu, Research Associate Yunchao Gai and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience Ron Davis. Credit: Photo courtesy of The Scripps Research Institute.

    While research has identified 100s of genes required for normal memory formation, genes that suppress memory are of special interest because they offer insights into how the brain prioritizes and manages all of the information, including memories, that it takes in every day. These genes also provide clues new treatments for cognitive disorders eg, Alzheimer’s disease. TSRI scientists have identified a unique memory suppressor gene in the brain cells of Drosophila fruit fly, a widely recognized substitute for human memory studies.

    Davis et a...

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    Blood-Brain Barrier breakthrough reported

    April 8, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Cornell researchers found that an FDA-approved drug called Lexiscan activates receptors -- called adenosine receptors -- that are expressed on BBB cells. Credit: Dr. Margaret Bynoe, College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University

    Cornell researchers found that an FDA-approved drug called Lexiscan activates receptors — called adenosine receptors — that are expressed on BBB cells. Credit: Dr. Margaret Bynoe, College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University

    Cornell researchers have discovered a way to penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) that may soon permit delivery of drugs directly into the brain to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and chemotherapy-resistant cancers. The BBB is a layer of endothelial cells that selectively allow entry of molecules needed for brain function, such as amino acids, oxygen, glucose and water, while keeping others out. An FDA-approved drug, Lexiscan activates adenosine receptors – that are expressed on these BBB cells.

    “We can open the BBB for a brief window of time, lo...

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