20 Things To Know About Alzheimer's Disease

Please Help Support Alzheimer's Research Today!

Your Alzheimer's donation will help billions live without it.

Alzheimer's facts

( brain cells may not present the full picture )

Rett syndrome is a devastating genetic disease in which brain development—along with communication and motor skills—regresses after about 18 months of normal development. While previous work on this disease has focused on its neurological basis, new research published online yesterday (March 18) in Nature suggests that the immune system may be a target worth investigating: in a mouse model of the disease, bone marrow transplants significantly improved symptoms, extending lifespan far and beyond what was expected, increasing size and reducing tremors.

“It’s a very interesting, very provocative paper that could potentially be very important both for the basic biology of the disease as well as translational aspects of it,” said QC, who studies the molecular mechanisms of Rett syndrome at the University of Wisconsin and was not involved in the new study. “But I think this is the type of work that probably raises more questions than it answers.”

Rett syndrome is caused by many different mutations in the Mecp2 gene, which lies on the X-chromosome and regulates thousands of other genes by binding to and altering methylation marks attached to DNA. Posing a further challenge to understanding the disease’s mechanism, Mecp2 is expressed in many tissues in the body. “Every cell type has methylation, but the methylation patterns may be different cell to cell,” said ZZ, who studies epigenetics and Rett syndrome at the University of Pennsylvania and did not participate in the research. “If that’s the case, Mecp2 may regulate and participate in different pathways in different cells.” Continue to read: the-scientist.com

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

TODAY'S PHOTO

Prebiotic supplements could aid mineral absorption

Supplementation with fibre rich prebiotics could help to boost bone density by increasing the levels of important minerals absorbed in the gut, according to new research in rats. Read more: http://is.gd/3i3Cxg

Беларусь ТВ