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Can we protect nerve cells from dying?

Alzheimer's researchers identify specific inhibitors that prevent nerve cell loss and improve social recognition memory in mouse models. The study sheds light on the molecular sequence of events leading to cellular demise and opens up new research avenues for halting or preventing brain damage.

SourceVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2024

Take aim at the pause!

Researchers have uncovered a new mechanism in the growth of amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils, which are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease. The team found that each Aβ fibril is composed of two thin strands called protofilaments, and when their ends align, the fibril enters a paused state where growth temporarily stops.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 24, 2024

Breakthrough study reveals how mutant p53 protein converts other proteins into cancer drivers

Researchers have uncovered a critical mechanism by which mutant p53 protein converts other proteins into cancer-promoting agents, driving tumor growth. Heparin, a widely used anticoagulant, can inhibit the formation of these harmful aggregates, providing a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceInstituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (INBEB)·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2024

MCG scientists working to understand why men with prostate cancer are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s

Researchers investigated the connection between androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease. They found that ADT can exacerbate cognitive decline by increasing brain immune cell infiltration, but a combination with Natalizumab improved integrity of the blood-brain barrier and reduced inflammation.

Groundbreaking study reveals insights into Alzheimer's disease mechanisms through novel hydrogel matrix

Researchers have developed a multi-component hydrogel scaffold to mimic the amyloid-beta containing microenvironment associated with AD. The study found elevated levels of neuroinflammation and apoptosis markers in healthy neuronal progenitor cells cultured within this environment.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalActa Biomaterialia·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2024

Robert A. Rissman, Ph.D., receives the 2024 Alzheimer Award

Dr. Rissman's research uses plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio to predict brain amyloid PET positivity and identify individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease. His findings demonstrate the potential of a blood test to screen for amyloid in preclinical AD trials.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 9, 2024

USC study links lack of diversity in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials to differences in amyloid levels

Researchers found that individuals from certain racial and ethnic groups are less likely to be eligible for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials due to lower amyloid levels at early stages of the disease. Amyloid buildup in the brain varies across different populations, contributing to underrepresentation in clinical trials.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 17, 2024

Amyloid blood levels associated with brain changes in Alzheimer's study

A study published by the University of Florida suggests a connection between elevated amyloid blood levels and subtle brain microstructural changes in individuals without dementia. Researchers used diffusion MRI to detect free-water in the brain, revealing associations with structural abnormalities even when PET scans were negative.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 6, 2024

HKUST researchers develop efficient and accessible single-molecule platform for detecting various amylin species associated with type 2 diabetes

Researchers at HKUST have developed an optical plasmonic tweezer-controlled SERS platform to detect pH-dependent amylin species, revealing the secrets behind amyloid aggregation mechanisms. The platform enables efficient and high-throughput single-molecule characterization of various amylin species.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 4, 2024

Mass General Brigham study finds daily learning test can detect Alzheimer’s disease-related changes in memory among cognitively normal older adults

A study by Mass General Brigham found that daily learning tests can detect Alzheimer's disease-related changes in memory among cognitively normal older adults. The test, called BRANCH, was completed over seven days on a smartphone, revealing diminished learning curves associated with elevated amyloid levels.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAnnals of Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 26, 2023

Molecular cooperation at the threshold of life

Amyloids have been found to selectively bind with codon-sized RNA, a crucial step in the emergence of life. These interactions may represent a universal genetic code that unites all living beings, increasing stability and order in an otherwise dilute system.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 27, 2023

Chemical process makes peptide acquire structure similar to amyloid plaques found in neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists identify pyroglutamination, a spontaneous chemical change, in peptide synthesis, leading to an amyloidal structure and potential implications for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The process favors aggregation of molecules, forming plaques that interrupt neuronal flow.

Graphene oxide reduces the toxicity of Alzheimer’s proteins

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have shown that graphene oxide nanoflakes can reduce the accumulation of misfolded amyloid peptides in yeast cells, which are similar to human neurons affected by Alzheimer's disease. This suggests that graphene oxide may hold great potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2023

New study finds the prealbumin gene alone is insufficient for diagnosis of heart failure

A new multi-center study found that having a genetic variant in the prealbumin gene alone is not sufficient for diagnosing transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in older Black patients. Researchers suggest that a blood test measuring prealbumin levels may be useful in identifying patients at risk of developing cardiac amyloidosis.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJul 28, 2023

New research from the Stowers Institute reveals the start of Huntington’s disease

Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have uncovered the structure of the first step in amyloid formation for Huntington's disease. The team proposes a new method for treating not only Huntington's but potentially dozens of other amyloid-associated diseases by preventing the initial, rate-limiting step from occurring.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2023