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Chaperone protein imbalance initiates toxic accumulation of tau in the aging brain

Chaperone protein imbalance can play a significant role in initiating toxic accumulation of tau in the aging brain - an early step in the development of Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies, a new preclinical study by University of South Florida Health (USF Health) neuroscientists suggests.

21 Apr 2021

Study shows how tau aggregates promote Alzheimer’s disease

If looked deep into the brain of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease or those suffering from the most types of dementia or the concussion-associated syndrome, called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), there would be hairball-like tangles of a protein known as tau—a common suspected culprit.

20 Apr 2021

New method helps map the epigenetics of mouse brain

Histones are essentially small proteins that attach to DNA and store information that can be used to switch individual genes on or off.

14 Apr 2021

Dopamine-releasing brain cells shed light on Parkinson’s disease

Scientists have found that botulinum toxin—commonly known as Botox—can expose the inner workings of the brain, in addition to smoothing out wrinkles.

From New York University (NYU) 7 Apr 2021

New blueprint of brain connectivity provides detailed understanding of the basal ganglia

Thousands of our daily activities, from making coffee to taking a walk to saying hello to a neighbor, are made possible through an ancient collection of brain structures tucked away near the center of the cranium.

6 Apr 2021

Study sheds new light on age-related neurodegenerative disorders

Neurons cannot simulate their DNA and hence they work continuously to repair any damage caused to their genome.

2 Apr 2021

Discovering a new genetic mutation in Schizophrenia

A new genetic mutation has been discovered in schizophrenia, and we spoke to Dr. Todd Lencz from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to find out more.

From Northwell Health 1 Apr 2021

Synthetic cannabinoid reduces essential tremors by activating astrocytes

A research team from the Department of Neuroscience at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences has now made a recent finding that may prove crucial to upcoming studies and treatments using medical cannabis.

19 Mar 2021

New high-throughput system for testing drug candidates to treat neurodegenerative diseases

On the basis of a license agreement with the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), the Dresden-based start-up "Neuron-D GmbH" is developing a high-throughput system for testing drug candidates to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

19 Mar 2021

Scientists find a better way to identify cells and understand disease mechanisms

In researching the causes and potential treatments for degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, neuroscientists frequently struggle to accurately identify cells needed to understand brain activity that gives rise to behavior changes such as declining memory or impaired balance and tremors.

18 Mar 2021

Mutant protein plays key role in Huntington’s disease

Back in 1993, researchers had discovered that Huntington’s disease is typically caused by a single mutated gene, known as HTT.

8 Mar 2021

Study reveals process behind key cellular change in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A research team has discovered the trigger of a crucial cellular change in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a form of motor neuron disease.

5 Mar 2021

New signaling pathway prevents the overproduction of RNA-protein complexes

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as various forms of senile dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have one thing in common: large amounts of certain RNA-protein complexes (snRNPs) are produced and deposited in the nerve cells of those affected - and this hinders the function of the cells.

26 Feb 2021

New platform could help treat neurodegenerative diseases using regenerative medicine

Imagine if surgeons could transplant healthy neurons into patients living with neurodegenerative diseases or brain and spinal cord injuries.

24 Feb 2021

Tiny population of neurons may play a significant role in depression

A tiny population of neurons known to be important to appetite appear to also have a significant role in depression that results from unpredictable, chronic stress, scientists say.

12 Feb 2021

Scientists identify mystery protein that explains the origins of Parkinson's Disease

Researchers have made a “vital step” toward inferring the origins of Parkinson’s disease—a neurological condition that is rapidly growing in the world.

11 Feb 2021

Scientists implicate disruption in prenatal neurogenesis in the development of autism

A new study of autism risk genes by UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley scientists implicates disruption in prenatal neurogenesis - a process in which specialized "progenitor" cells give rise to new brain cells - in the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

9 Feb 2021

Synthetic biomolecule resembles dual stimuli-responsive channel

For the first time, researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and the University of Tokyo in Japan have produced a new artificial transmembrane ion channel—based on a naturally found transmembrane channel that plays a role in neuron signaling—that reacts to both electrical and chemical stimuli.

2 Feb 2021

Automated electron microscopy helps visualize neural function and behavior

Researchers are still clueless about how the neural networks are linked together to make functional circuits.

From Harvard Medical School 12 Jan 2021

High-speed atomic force microscopy sheds light on structure, dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins

Kanazawa University’s pioneering high-speed atomic force microscope technology has now shed light on the structure and dynamics of some of life’s most ubiquitous and inscrutable molecules – intrinsically disordered proteins.

29 Dec 2020