Articles tagged with Neurodegenerative Diseases
Scientists have found that the APOE4 gene variant causes hyperactivity in two regions of the hippocampus, an important memory center of the brain, even before middle age. In mice with the APOE4 gene, reducing Nell2 levels reverses neuronal changes and improves cognitive function.
A team of researchers, led by Bistra Iordanova and Liang Zhan, are developing multiscale models of brain metabolism to predict cognitive decline and dementia. They will analyze data from brain imaging, blood flow, and neural activity to identify metabolic changes that affect brain function in aging.
The NIH has renewed support for the USC-led AI4AD initiative, expanding its efforts to better classify Alzheimer's and related diseases, predict progression, and identify new treatment targets. The $12.6 million award will develop AI tools to uncover biological causes of Alzheimer's and improve disease diagnosis.
The review highlights LRRK2's diverse cellular functions and pathogenic mechanisms in various diseases, including Parkinson's disease and inflammatory disorders. Therapeutic strategies targeting LRRK2, such as kinase inhibitors and emerging approaches like PROTACs and gene therapy, show promise for correcting cellular imbalances and re...
Researchers developed an AI model that can detect several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, from a single blood sample. The model uses protein measurements from over 17,000 patients and outperforms previous models.
A new model of brain wiring could shorten the path to developing medicines for multiple sclerosis and other degenerative brain diseases. The model, made of a water-filled gel, replicates the physical properties of human axons and has been successfully grown from human cells in the laboratory.
Researchers at Nagoya University found that a brief spike in testosterone after birth causes muscle-wasting disease to develop decades later. Treating the disease at birth significantly reduced nerve cell breakdown in adult mice.
A new book by Swansea University researchers argues that attention impairments, rather than memory dysfunction, are a key aspect of dementia. The authors suggest that recognizing these changes could lead to earlier identification, improved diagnosis, and better care for those affected.
The Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) study, led by USF researchers, aims to delay the onset of dementia through computerized brain training exercises. With over $50 million in federal grant funding, the trial has enrolled 7,600 older adults and is expected to conclude in January 2028.
The Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation has donated to USC's Keck School of Medicine to enhance clinical trials for individuals with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer's. This will increase domestic and international sites, accelerating the development of treatments specifically for this population.
The Brain Health Collaboratory aims to accelerate the discovery, validation, and delivery of non-invasive neuroprotective therapies for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Cognito Therapeutics' Spectris technology platform will be combined with Ochsner's clinical network to explore new approaches to brain health care delivery.
A new biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid significantly improves the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The test is highly specific, distinguishing between patients with these conditions and Alzheimer's disease.
Older adults with and without Parkinson's disease have increased brain activity and muscle signals when recovering from balance disturbances. This makes it more difficult for them to recover their balance.
A comprehensive protein atlas has been developed to understand the molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative diseases. By analyzing protein levels, modifications, and interactions across six major diseases, researchers identified alterations unique to and shared between diseases, as well as distinct subtypes within individual diseases.
Researchers at Lund University have developed a new blood marker that significantly improves the accuracy of Alzheimer's diagnosis. The study found that combining two biomarkers, p-tau217 and eMTBR-tau243, can identify people with established Alzheimer's disease with an accuracy rate of around 80%. This breakthrough reduces false posit...
Huntington's disease is caused by a toxic protein that builds in brain cells and spreads to other cells through tunneling nanotubes. Disrupting this pathway reduces the spread of the disease-causing protein, suggesting a new target for therapy.
A Finnish clinical imaging study found that rest tremor in Parkinson's disease is associated with relatively well-preserved dopamine function, challenging the long-held assumption of greater dopamine loss. The study analyzed data from 414 patients and demonstrated a clear correlation between higher dopamine transporter binding and tremor.
The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program is expanding its career development award to include neuropsychiatry researcher-physicians. This expansion aims to improve clinical trial enrollment and represent diverse patient populations affected by complex disorders.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a method to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for Parkinson's disease. The process harnesses the power of bacteria to break down PET waste and produce L-DOPA, providing a sustainable solution to the production of pharmaceuticals.
Researchers found that patients with both conditions exhibited different neuropsychiatric symptoms, which could inform diagnosis and treatment plans. The study's findings may help clinicians better understand the complex disease course of patients with multiple disorders, including Alzheimer's and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Developed by CU Anschutz experts, the tool helps patients weigh treatment options and boosts confidence. The majority of patients reported it was helpful in their decision-making process, finding it useful and satisfied with the tool.
Researchers tracked daily behaviors of African turquoise killifish for four years, identifying 100 distinct 'behavioral syllables' that predicted lifespan. Fish that lived longer tended to sleep at night, swim with greater vigor, and be more active during daylight hours.
A new study found that functional impairment worsened over time in individuals with early Parkinson's disease, despite plateaued symptoms, with gait, balance, and posture being the most bothersome issues. The study's results underscore the importance of incorporating real-world measures of disease progression in clinical trial design.
Patients with neurological diseases face profound questions about identity, purpose, and meaning, but neurologists often lack training and tools to address these concerns. A new paper offers practical strategies for incorporating spiritual assessment into routine neurological care.
A cancer medication, eFT508, has been shown to lower hyperconnectivity in early Alzheimer's disease by reducing amyloid-beta protein levels. This finding suggests a promising treatment avenue for memory loss in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discover enzyme ANKIB1 crucial for innate immune signalling, driving type I and type III interferon induction. This finding solves a long-standing puzzle in innate immunity and provides opportunities for new therapies for devastating diseases.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have developed a new cellular immunotherapy that uses brain cells called astrocytes to clear away dementia-related proteins, such as amyloid beta. The treatment requires just a single injection and has shown promise in mice by reducing the amount of plaques in half.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute developed an AI tool that analyzes brain scans to predict Alzheimer's disease. The method is accurate in detecting the disease among normal brains and those with mild cognitive impairment, highlighting key anatomical changes such as volume loss in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex.
Researchers demonstrate that genetically engineered human pluripotent stem cells can overcome immune rejection in mice, surviving for five months with humanized immune systems. The findings provide proof-of-principle for a potential universal donor hPSC line designed to resist immune attack.
A preliminary study found that people with drinking water from newer groundwater had a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The study suggested that groundwater age and location may be potential environmental risk factors for the disease, with older groundwater from carbonate aquifers showing a protective effect.
A pilot clinical trial suggests that low-dose oral lithium may help slow the decline of verbal memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, particularly those with evidence of amyloid beta. The study found that participants receiving lithium showed a slower rate of decline on a sensitive test of verbal memory.
Chronic sleep disruption persistently impairs social memory by differentially encoding oxytocin release in hippocampal CA2 during novelty encoding and prelimbic cortex during retrieval of familiar individuals. Restoration of PVN-OXT neurons enhances OXT release and produces sustained behavioral recovery.
Researchers found that noninvasive measures of brain blood flow and oxygenation are associated with hallmark brain changes in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Higher values on these indicators were linked to lower levels of amyloid plaques and larger hippocampal volume, indicating a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found NfL levels increase with age in various animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. The protein can help assess biological age and predict life expectancy across species.
A new study from Houston Methodist suggests that the outer area of the retina may hold clues to early Alzheimer's detection, potentially allowing for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring. Researchers found that changes in retinal cells and blood vessels can indicate the onset of AD years before symptoms appear.
Researchers developed a free-to-use software tool, PSBench, to verify the accuracy of artificial intelligence-based protein structure predictions. The database includes 1.4 million annotated protein models, verified by experts, and provides reliable information for building more accurate AI systems.
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that explains how exercise improves cognition by shoring up the brain's protective barrier. The study found that an exercise-induced liver protein strengthens the blood-brain barrier, reducing inflammation and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers develop novel method to manipulate cell structures using weak magnetic fields and isotopes, bridging structural biology, biophysics, and quantum biology. This work offers a potential new strategy for stabilizing damaged brain proteins, typical of neurodegenerative diseases.
The JAX-NYSCF Collaborative and GSK are working together to develop human cellular models of neurodegenerative diseases. This collaboration aims to generate disease-relevant cellular models that can help scientists understand the underlying biology of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have identified astrocytes as a promising cellular target for Alzheimer's therapy. Senescent astrocytes, which lose functional capacity, are found in Alzheimer's patients' brains, leading to neuronal damage and inflammation. The study opens an avenue for therapeutic strategies like senolytic drugs.
Research finds a specific link between hearing loss and cognitive decline in presbycusis, a neurodegenerative disorder. The Functional-Structural Ratio (FSR) identifies reduced connections between brain areas involved in sound processing and memory, associated with worse hearing thresholds and poorer performance on memory and executive...
Researchers isolated native SOD1 monomers using coordination cages, revealing the dimer interface and enabling targeted ligand binding. This approach provides a promising new strategy for finding drugs that inhibit disease-causing protein aggregation.
Researchers found that Parkinson's patients experience weight loss due to selective fat depletion, not muscle loss, driven by impaired carbohydrate-based energy production. This metabolic shift highlights a disorder of both the brain and body, driving disease progression.
Indiana University scientists have identified IDOL, an enzyme that removes amyloid plaques and improves communication between neurons in the brain. Targeting this enzyme may provide a new way to remove amyloid plaques and improve resilience against disease progression.
Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health found a strong association between bone lead concentrations and increased risk of dementia. The study analyzed data from over 30 years of follow-up and estimated cumulative lifetime exposure to lead using machine learning algorithms.
The Biggs Institute will focus on finding solutions to dementia through advanced research, therapies, and care. The new precision therapy center will be named after the donors.
Researchers have developed an innovative endovascular brain-computer interface (EBCI) that enables precise and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The EBCI can reach key deep brain regions involved in memory circuits, providing a natural implantation pathway for electrode delivery.
A lattice-like structure called the membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS) acts as a gatekeeper for endocytosis, regulating nutrient uptake and protein regulation in brain cells. Disrupting this structure can lead to accelerated endocytosis and increased cellular uptake of toxic molecules like amyloid precursor protein.
A new software tool developed by MIT researchers can reliably and finely resolve eight distinct nerve bundles in live diffusion MRI scans, shedding light on neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The BrainStem Bundle Tool (BSBT) reveals distinct patterns of structural changes in patients with these conditions.
Researchers have identified a specific brain network that is mainly active in the fast beta frequency range and modulates motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease through deep brain stimulation. Stimulating this network, which communicates at 20-35 Hz, can improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that altering how alpha-synuclein interacts with LRRK2 limits its ability to bind to cargo and disrupt axonal transport. This suggests a functional link between the two proteins, which may help understand the triggers of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Keck Medicine of USC are investigating a unique therapy that uses lab-generated stem cells to repair damaged brain cells and produce dopamine, which may slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease. The treatment has shown promise in early clinical trials with 12 participants experiencing improved motor function.
Scientists have discovered a new strategy to prevent the formation of toxic tau tangles in brain cells, which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases. By targeting polyserine, an amino acid chain that drives tau misfolding, researchers have found a potential preventative treatment for tauopathies.
Researchers at Stanford University discovered that aging brains struggle with protein disposal, leading to the accumulation of damaged proteins in synaptic connections. This finding sheds light on the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases and may lead to new insights into human brain aging.
Researchers found that overexpressed Fc gamma receptors on reactive microglia mistakenly identify healthy neurons, leading to their elimination. Immunotherapy targeting these receptors could slow disease progression by preserving dopaminergic neurons.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a novel mass spectrometry tool called FLEXITau to analyze brain tissue from 203 patients with various tauopathies. The study identified 145 post-translational modifications and 195 cleavage sites across tau, providing a precise molecular roadmap for diagnostics and drug development.
Researchers at University College London discovered that Alzheimer's disease disrupts the brain's 'memory replay' process, leading to impaired navigation and memory loss. The study found that even when mice were resting, their brains replayed recent experiences in an altered pattern, which had consequences on memory tasks.
A new study from Lund University finds that modifiable risk factors like smoking and high blood pressure can damage brain blood vessels and increase dementia risk. Living a healthy lifestyle may help delay symptom onset in Alzheimer's disease.
A new study reveals how Parkinson's spreads from the gut to the brain via immune cells, identifying a key role for gut macrophages in transporting toxic proteins. Reducing these cells can slow disease progression and improve motor symptoms in mice.
Two U.S. healthcare systems, Tufts Medicine and University of Utah Health, will implement the DAC-SP Early Detection Blueprint across ten primary care sites to improve early detection of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The initiative aims to refine a replicable model for early detection that can be adopted nationwide.