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Alzheimer’s disease may cause vicious circle between brain network and immune cell dysfunctions

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered that non-convulsive epileptic activity drives chronic brain inflammation in Alzheimer's models, which can be reversed by eliminating protein tau or using the anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam. This link between brain networks and immune cells may hold promising treatments for Alzheimer's di...

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournaliScience·DateOct 26, 2021

Maintaining balance in the brain

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes found that reducing tau levels impacts both excitatory and inhibitory cells, leading to a reduction in excitation-inhibition ratios. This effect counteracts diseases that cause abnormal increases in this ratio, potentially improving the brain's ability to perform its functions.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 19, 2021

Award for Cambridge neuroscientist

Michel Goedert's research focuses on protein aggregates in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, providing deep insights into disease development. His work is essential for finding new treatments, as evidenced by his discovery of gene mutations leading to dementia.

SourceDZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases·DateOct 15, 2021

A novel mouse model that recapitulates the isoform-specific, pathological propagation of tau

Researchers have developed a novel mouse model that accurately replicates the pathological propagation of tau protein isoforms in Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and Pick's disease. The model shows endogenous expression of both 3R and 4R tau, which accumulates in brain regions characteristic of each disease.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science·JournalBrain·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 5, 2021
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Detecting dementia in the blood

Researchers have developed a potential blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease using atomic force microscopy technology. The test analyzes protein fibers made up of beta-amyloid peptides and tau proteins, which accumulate in patients' blood cells, indicating the stage of the disease.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Toxicity of protein involved in Alzheimer's triggered by a chemical 'switch'

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that disulfide bonds on certain amino acids stabilize tau protein, leading to its accumulation and triggering neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study suggests that targeting these chemical groups may lead to novel treatments to reduce or prevent tau accumulation.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·DateJun 26, 2021

New drug to halt dementia after multiple head injuries

A new international study has identified a drug that can halt the progression of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in sportspeople who sustain repeated head injuries. The treatment was successfully tested in animal models and shows promise for preventing neurological problems associated with CTE, which affects cognition and behavior.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 7, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

How tangled proteins kill brain cells, promote Alzheimer's, CTE

A University of Colorado Boulder study reveals that tau aggregates interfere with RNA splicing, leading to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. The findings provide new insights into the mechanism of action of tau tangles, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNeuron·DateApr 16, 2021

Women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein faster

Research from Lund University in Sweden suggests that women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein tau at a higher rate than men. The study found a 75% higher accumulation rate of tau in women compared to men in the temporal lobe affected by the disease.

SourceLund University·JournalBrain·DateMar 25, 2021
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Investigational gene regulation therapy could protect against Alzheimer's

A new gene regulation therapy using zinc finger proteins has shown high efficacy in reducing Tau protein levels in the brain, potentially protecting against Alzheimer's disease. The treatment reduces Tau production by 50-80% and prevents nerve damage without obvious side effects.

SourceDZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 22, 2021

Animal model opens way to test Alzheimer's disease therapies

Researchers have developed a new animal model of early-stage Alzheimer's disease in rhesus macaques, which could enable better testing of new treatments. The model replicates the spread of misfolded tau proteins through brain circuits, similar to human disease progression.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateMar 18, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Study identifies novel mechanisms that cause protein clumping in brain diseases

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that liquid-liquid phase separation facilitates tau protein aggregation, a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. The researchers discovered a novel regulatory mechanism involving different variants of tau protein, which may influence disease clinical outcomes.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 1, 2020

Tau protein changes in Alzheimer's disease correlate with dementia stage

Research reveals that tau protein undergoes stepwise chemical modifications over time, correlating with dementia stage in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery suggests that multiple drugs may be necessary to target tau effectively, with early intervention requiring different therapeutics compared to late-stage treatment.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalCell·DateNov 18, 2020
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Cause of Alzheimer's disease traced to mutation in common enzyme

A study by Tokyo Metropolitan University reveals that a specific MARK4 mutation causes tau protein to aggregate in the brain, leading to Alzheimer's disease. The mutated enzyme makes tau proteins sticky and insoluble, causing neurons to die and memory functions to impair.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateOct 24, 2020

Penn Medicine researchers discover a rare genetic form of dementia

Researchers discovered a novel mutation in the VCP gene leading to a buildup of tau proteins and neuronal vacuoles, characteristic of Vacuolar Tauopathy (VT), a rare neurodegenerative disease. The study suggests a new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease by boosting VCP activity to break up protein aggregates.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience·DateOct 1, 2020

New mouse model of tau propagation

A new mouse model shows that injecting synthetic assembled tau protein causes tau accumulation in wild-type mice, spreading to connected regions. This study establishes that tau assembly does not require mutation or overexpression.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science·JournalBrain Communications·DateSep 23, 2020

Unlocking the mystery of tau for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers discovered a novel role of tau specific to FTLD spectrum diseases, contributing to conditions like ALS, PSP, and CBD, but not AD and Pick's disease. The study proposes an imbalanced accumulation of tau model, where FUS and SFPQ regulate MAPT processing, leading to increased 4-repeat tau levels.

SourceNagoya University·JournalBrain·DateSep 9, 2020
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Experimental drug for Alzheimer's may help children with autism

Researchers discovered deposits of the tau protein typically found in Alzheimer's patients in the brain of an autistic child with ADNP syndrome. An experimental drug called NAP successfully restored normal function to damaged nerve cells in models of ADNP syndrome, offering new hope for treating this genetic disorder.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateJul 28, 2020

Why memory-forming neurons are vulnerable to Alzheimer's

A new study sheds light on the molecular factors that render entorhinal brain cells uniquely sensitive to degeneration. Researchers found that a suite of genes is likely involved in making these neurons easy targets for degeneration, with PTBP1 playing a major role.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalNeuron·DateJul 1, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Plasticity may make neurons vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers found that neurons with high remodeling activity are more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease and die when their remodeling goes awry. The study, which linked amyloid-beta and tau proteins at the genetic and molecular levels, provides insights into the disease's progression.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalNeuron·DateJun 29, 2020

How toxic protein spreads in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Lund University and McGill University found that toxic tau protein spreads in the human brain via connected neurons, facilitated by beta-amyloid. The spread of toxic tau leads to widespread neuronal death and eventual dementia.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 29, 2020

Tracking tau

A study published in Nature reveals that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) plays a key role in the spread of pathological tau proteins between neurons. By inhibiting LRP1 expression, researchers were able to reduce tau spread in mice, offering new hope for potential treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Alzheimer's and an unusual molecular chaperone

Researchers from University of Konstanz discover that a molecular chaperone helps form Alzheimer fibrils by exposing a vulnerable area on the protein tau, preventing longer, more toxic fibril formation. The findings suggest a possible defense mechanism against Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 13, 2020
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Beta-arrestin-2 increases neurotoxic tau driving frontotemporal dementia

A University of South Florida study suggests beta-arrestin-2 can lead to increased accumulation of neurotoxic tau tangles in the brain, causing forms of dementia. The researchers found that oligomerized beta-arrestin-2 disrupts protective clearance processes, leading to disease-causing tau buildup.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 18, 2020

Toxic protein, linked to Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases, exposed in new detail

Researchers analyzed brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer's and corticobasal degeneration, finding that modifications to the tau protein influence its misfolding behavior. The study reveals key insights into how tau filaments form, grow, and spread throughout the brain, potentially accelerating the fight against neurodegenerative ...

SourceThe Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University·JournalCell·DateFeb 6, 2020
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Tumbleweeds or fibrils: Tau proteins need to choose

Tau proteins exhibit distinct aggregation behaviors, with phosphorylation influencing their formation of either solid fibrils or disordered clumps. The researchers' findings offer new insights into the causes of Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia, potentially leading to the development of therapeutic interventions.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2020

New aspects of globular glial tauopathy could help in the design of more effective drugs

A study on globular glial tauopathy reveals that phosphate groups are not unique to tau protein and can lead to dysfunction in other proteins. Glial cells also play a crucial role in the disease's progression by facilitating the spread of protein inclusions. This research sheds light on potential new drug targets to stop disease progre...

SourceIDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateJan 27, 2020
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Inflammatory processes drive progression of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases

Researchers found that inflammatory processes triggered by the NLRP3 inflammasome play a key role in emerging tau pathology, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study suggests that modulating the immune response could be a promising approach for treating these conditions.

SourceDZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2019

NIH scientists develop test for uncommon brain diseases

Scientists have linked abnormal tau in the brain to at least 25 neurodegenerative diseases, but current diagnosis requires analyzing brain tissue after death. The new test uses cerebrospinal fluid to detect abnormal tau, offering hope for diagnosing less common neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateOct 16, 2019

Tracking Alzheimer's disease pathology in single neuronal cells

University of Warwick researchers introduce fluorescently labelled Tau oligomers into single brain neurons and observe significant effects on action potential dynamics and synaptic transmission. They find that Tau oligomers interfere with memory storage by mis-localising at synapses.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournaleNeuro·DateSep 26, 2019
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Protein tangles linked with dementia seen in patients after single head injury

Researchers at Imperial College London visualized protein 'tangles' associated with dementia in patients who suffered a single head injury, showing collective likelihood of tau tangles and nerve damage. The study may accelerate treatment development by enabling medics to monitor tau protein levels.

SourceImperial College London·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 4, 2019

Alzheimer's disease destroys neurons that keep us awake

Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that Alzheimer's disease directly attacks brain regions responsible for wakefulness during the day, leading to excessive daytime napping. This damage is associated with tau protein buildup, which contributes more directly to brain degeneration than amyloid protein.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·DateAug 12, 2019

Deciphering brain somatic mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have identified non-inherited somatic mutations in the brain that could contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression. These mutations were found to be associated with hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins, a hallmark of AD.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 18, 2019
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Indications why older people are more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease

Research finds that older brains have a higher rate of tau protein spread, contributing to Alzheimer's disease progression. The study uses gene vectors to demonstrate this connection in mice, raising questions about therapeutic options and disease mechanisms.

SourceDZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 8, 2019
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

How do protein tangles get so long in Alzheimer's?

Researchers at Ohio State University have found that tau protein aggregates in Alzheimer's disease can grow by joining end-to-end, forming longer filaments. This discovery helps explain the formation of toxic aggregates and may inform the development of new drug candidates.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 11, 2019