Add BrightSurf on Google Email

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

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

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

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

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.

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 ...

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