Anesthesia is found to induce hyperphosphorylation of tau at sites related to Alzheimer's diseaseMarch 10, 2009Scientists from The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities' (OMRDD) New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR) report today in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease that anesthesia induces phosphorylation of tau. Tau is a key neuronal protein involved in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and several other neurodegenerative disorders. Anesthesia has previously been found to be associated with cognitive impairment and the risk for AD. This study helps elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations. The researchers found that in test animals, anesthesia for short periods (30 seconds to 5 minutes) induced tau phosphorylation at some selective phosphorylation sites to a small but significant extent. Anesthesia for a longer time (1 hour) induced much more dramatic phosphorylation at the same sites, possibly as a result of anesthesia-induced hypothermia. The observation that anesthesia did not induce global hyperphosphorylation of brain proteins, but instead specific hyperphosphorylation of tau protein at the AD-related abnormal hyperphosphorylation sites suggests that tau hyperphosphorylation might be the mechanism that links anesthesia and the risk of cognitive impairment and/or AD. AD is the most common cause of dementia in adults and affects approximately 27 million individuals worldwide and over four million in the United States alone. Most AD cases are sporadic and are believed to be caused by multiple factors. Understanding the mechanism by which anesthesia may increase the risk for cognitive impairment will help in the design of strategies for preventing and treating dementia and AD. "This is a very important finding related to Alzheimer's disease," said OMRDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter. "I am pleased that these findings will lead to helping people live richer lives through the research findings." These findings were published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2009; 16:3 (Run X, Liang Z, Zhang L, Iqbal K, Grundke-Iqbal I, Gong C-X: Anesthesia induces phosphorylation of tau. JAD 16:3; 619-626). The study was carried out by the Brain Metabolism Laboratory at IBR. Headed by Dr. Cheng-Xin Gong, the laboratory is focusing its research on the roles of several signaling and metabolic factors in neurodegeneration and deregulated neurodevelopment, especially related to AD and autism. IOS Press |
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| Related Anesthesia Current Events and Anesthesia News Articles Surgery not linked to memory problems in older patients For years, it has been widely assumed that older adults may experience memory loss and other cognitive problems following surgery. But a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis questions those assumptions. Common pain relief medication may encourage cancer growth Although morphine has been the gold-standard treatment for postoperative and chronic cancer pain for two centuries, a growing body of evidence is showing that opiate-based painkillers can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells. Need for emergency airway surgery for hard-to-intubate patients reduced Be prepared, that old Boy Scout motto, is being applied with great success to operating room patients whose anatomy may make it difficult for physicians to help them breathe during surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers report in a new study. For young boys with cancer, testicular tissue banking may be option to preserve fertility For parents of children with cancer, the hopeful news is that pediatric survival rates have steadily improved for decades. Among the bad news-treatments that enable survival often cause infertility. New TMS clinic offers noninvasive treatment for major depression Rush University Medical Center has opened the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinic to offer patients suffering from major depression a safe, effective, non-drug treatment. New technique for injectable facial fillers improves comfort, recovery Less pain during injections for wrinkle-fighting facial fillers. Less swelling afterward. Less time in the office waiting for anesthesia to take effect. Surgeons at Boston Medical Center offering new procedure for acid reflux/GERD Boston Medical Center (BMC) surgeons are now offering patients an incisionless alternative to laparoscopic and traditional surgery for treatment of acid reflux or GERD. Mayo Clinic study shows people with heart devices can 'digest' advanced diagnostic technology safely A new Mayo Clinic study suggests that video capsule endoscopy (CE), a procedure that uses wireless technology in diagnosing intestinal disease, is safe for patients with heart devices. General anesthetics lead to learning disabilities in animal models Studies by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have shown that blocking the NMDA receptor in immature rats leads to profound, rapid brain injury and disruption of auditory function as the animals mature. UF scientists discover new explanation for controversial old patient-care technique You might not know what it's called, but if you've had general anesthesia before surgery, especially after an accident, it is likely you have received Sellick's maneuver. More Anesthesia Current Events and Anesthesia News Articles |
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