Alzheimer's: the structural integrity of the neuron

20 Things To Know About Alzheimer's Disease

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(  problems in microtubule construction )

The team’s recent paper, published in the journal PLoS One, is one of a number of recent developments in Alzheimer’s disease related to basic research on the structure and chemistry of the brain. As scientists learn more about the brain’s infrastructure, they are coming up with new ideas for how to fight a devastating disease.

About 500,000 Canadians have Alzheimer’s and related dementias, and that number is expected to double within 20 years. There is currently no way to halt or reverse the disease, which robs people of their memories and, eventually, the ability to perform even simple tasks.

Researchers don’t yet understand how Alzheimer’s disease starts, but autopsies show that the brains of patients are riddled with sticky clumps known as amyloid plaques. There is a second type of damage as well, the distinctive tangles made up of a protein called tau.

For years, many Alzheimer’s researchers focused on the plaques, investigating how they form, and on developing experimental drugs to block their formation. These have not worked in humans.

There is increasing evidence, however, that plaques trigger a series of events that cause the tau protein to form tangles, and it is these tangles that kill brain cells and cause many symptoms of dementia.

Dr. Tuszynski and his colleagues have put forward a theory that explains how this happens. Tau, they say, plays a role in microtubule construction. It knits bundles of tubes together into a lattice-like structure inside the nerve fibre. Continue to read: theglobeandmail.com

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2012/02/07/2047945/obama-to-seek-more-alzheimers.html#storylink=cpy

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Donkey milk: health boosting potential for elderly

Donkey and horse milks and their derivatives could prove valuable foods for elderly consumers, and could also be used in probiotic drinks due to health-promoting properties. Read more: nutraingredients.com

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