Neurodegeneration News and Research

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Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons.

New Drug-Like Molecule Enhances Mitophagy, Protects Against Neurodegeneration

Having healthy mitochondria, the organelles that produce energy in all our cells, usually portends a long healthy life whether in humans or in C. elegans, a tiny, short-lived nematode worm often used to study the aging process.

14 Nov 2023

The Pathogenic Mechanism Underpinning MEPAN Syndrome

New research published in Nature Metabolism discovered the pathogenic mechanism driving mitochondrial enoyl reductase protein-associated neurodegeneration (MEPAN) syndrome, a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease.

1 Sep 2023

T Cells Infiltrate Brain and Worsen Alzheimer's Pathology, Study Finds

Cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) develops when neurons begin to die, which can be caused by inappropriate immune responses and excessive inflammation in the brain triggered by amyloid beta deposits and tau tangles, two hallmarks of the disease.

28 Aug 2023

Naked Mole Rat Gene Boosts Mouse Health and Longevity

University of Rochester scientists have successfully transmitted a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in better health and an extension of the mouse’s lifespan.

24 Aug 2023

Viral Proteins Promote the Spread of Protein Aggregates in the Brain

Viral genetic remnants found naturally in the human genome may influence the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

22 Aug 2023

Unique Molecular Structure Has Effects on Age-Related Diseases

The mitochondria, sometimes known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” are widely recognized for their function as energy producers, but these organelles are also essential for preserving general health.

8 Aug 2023

Mothers Who Eat Herbs in Early Pregnancy Can Protect Their Grandchildren’s Brains, Finds Study

Mothers who eat apples and herbs in early pregnancy could be protecting the brain health of their children and grandchildren, a Monash University study using genetic models has found.

4 Aug 2023

Potential Strategies for Slowing Cognitive Deterioration in Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Conditions

As we age, our bodies undergo various changes that can impact our overall health and make us more susceptible to diseases.

3 Aug 2023

New Tool Maps Cellular Stress Memory

When does that seasonal tan turn into a melanoma risk? When might those extra pounds cause diabetes? Could severe head injuries cause Alzheimer’s to develop? In the grand scheme of things, genetics, lifestyle, and age are risk factors, with the solutions frequently appearing only after the unfortunate diagnoses.

20 Jul 2023

AI-Aided Sensor Offers Hope for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases

By combining multiple advanced technologies into a single system, EPFL researchers have made a significant step forward in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

13 Jul 2023

Innovative Technique Enables In Vivo Imaging of Intracellular Protein Aggregates

Tau aggregates have become the main study focus for figuring out the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration since they are a prevalent form of amyloid protein. Tau fibrils and oligomers, among other forms of tau aggregates, have been linked to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.

21 Jun 2023

Machine Learning Reveals Sex-Specific Genes, Molecular Pathways Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative illness with genetic and environmental origins.

22 May 2023

Genes Responsible for Aging Identified in Nematodes

The USask research team uncovered a pair of genes involved in removing cells of toxins that build in the body and cause aging while working with small nematode worms called C. elegans. The researchers discovered that inactivating genes named CCF-1 and PAL-1 caused nematodes to die 50% faster than usual.

3 May 2023

Study Uncovers a Protein-Protein Interaction Related to Parkinson's Disease

In a study published in Nature Communications, a team led by Krembil Brain Institute Senior Scientists, Drs. Lorraine Kalia and Suneil Kalia, and University of Toronto (U of T) Professor, Dr. Philip M. Kim, identified a protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson's disease.

24 Apr 2023

Researchers Illuminate How Neurons Consume and Metabolize Glucose

The human brain has a sweet tooth, burning through nearly one quarter of the body's sugar energy, or glucose, each day.

21 Apr 2023

MIT Researchers Identify Brain Cells Most Susceptible to Neurodegeneration

Neurodegeneration, or the gradual loss of neuron function, is one of the key features of Alzheimer's disease.

20 Apr 2023

New Peptide Blocks a Hyperactive Brain Enzyme Involved in Neurodegeneration

MIT neuroscientists have found a way to reverse neurodegeneration and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by interfering with an enzyme that is typically overactive in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

17 Apr 2023

Newly Identified Rare Genetic Variants Could Point to One of the General Mechanisms Driving AMD

A study from the National Eye Institute (NEI) identified rare genetic variants that could point to one of the general mechanisms driving age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss in older adults.

3 Apr 2023

Rare genetic variants identified that point to MAC as a therapeutic target for age-related macular degeneration

A new study conducted at the National Eye Institute (NEI) has identified incredibly rare genetic variants that might uncover the mechanisms underlying the development of AMD.

31 Mar 2023

FDA-approved compound promotes photoreceptor survival in lab models of inherited retinal ciliopathy

A National Eye Institute-led team has identified a compound already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that keeps light-sensitive photoreceptors alive in three models of Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA 10), an inherited retinal ciliopathy disease that often results in severe visual impairment or blindness in early childhood.

30 Mar 2023