The function of an enzyme in the brain - strongly linked to a number of major brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder - has been identified for the first time by researchers at the University of Bristol, UK.
These findings, published in Neuron, will help in the understanding of how memories are laid down and what goes wrong in these disorders.
The research showed how controlling the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) might prevent a memory being erased by improving the strength of connections between neurons in the brain, thus allowing better consolidation of new information.
Professor Collingridge from the University of Bristol said: "While GSK3 has previously been implicated in major neurological disorders, until now its role in normal neuronal function has been largely unknown. Our new understanding will help pharmaceutical companies develop drugs to inhibit it when things go wrong."
Professor Graham Collingridge and his team, with colleagues from the University of British Columbia, revealed that the activity of GSK3 facilitates a form of 'cross-talk' between the two major forms of synaptic plasticity in the brain.
Synaptic plasticity is the strength of a connection between neurons and forms the basis of learning and memory.
Contact: Cherry Lewis
University of Bristol
четверг, 20 октября 2011 г.
понедельник, 17 октября 2011 г.
High Adherence To Mediterranean-Type Diet, Increased Physical Activity Associated With Reduced Risk Of Alzheimer Disease
Elderly individuals who had a diet that included higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereal and fish and was low in red meat and poultry and who were physically active had an associated lower risk of Alzheimer disease, according to a study in the August 12 issue of JAMA. In a second study, higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with slower cognitive decline, but was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
Research regarding the effect physical activity can have on the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) or dementia has shown mixed results, as has the effect of dietary habits. Their combined association has not been investigated, according to background information in the article.
Nikolaos Scarmeas, M.D., of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues examined the association between physical activity and risk of AD and also the effect of physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet on AD risk. The study included 2 groups that consisted of 1,880 community-dwelling elderly residents of New York city without dementia at the start of the study, for whom there was both diet and physical activity information available. Standardized neurological and neuropsychological measures were administered approximately every 1.5 years from 1992 through 2006.
The participants received measurements of their adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet (scale of 0-9; categorized as low, middle, or high) and their physical activity (sum of weekly participation in various physical activities, weighted by the type of physical activity [light, moderate, vigorous]; categorized into no physical activity, some, or much, also low or high), separately and combined. A higher score for diet was obtained with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish; lower consumption of meat and dairy products; a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats and mild to moderate alcohol consumption.
Individuals were followed up for an average of 5.4 years, during which a total of 282 developed AD. In considering only physical activity, the researchers found that more physical activity was associated with lower risk for developing AD. "Compared with physically inactive individuals, report of some physical activity was associated with a 29 percent to 41 percent lower risk of developing AD, while report of much physical activity was associated with a 37 percent to 50 percent lower risk," the authors write.
When considered simultaneously, both physical activity and Mediterranean diet adherence were significantly associated with AD incidence. According to the researchers, "Belonging to the middle diet adherence tertile was associated with a 2 percent to 14 percent risk reduction, while belonging to the highest diet adherence tertile was associated with a 32 percent to 40 percent reduced risk. Similarly, compared with individuals with no physical activity, individuals reporting some physical activity had a 25 percent to 38 percent lower risk for AD, while individuals reporting much physical activity had a 33 percent to 48 percent lower risk for AD."
The authors also write, "Compared with individuals with low physical activity plus low adherence to a diet (absolute AD risk, 19 percent), high physical activity plus high diet adherence was associated with a 35 percent to 44 percent relative risk reduction (absolute AD risk, 12 percent). ??¦ Absolute AD risks declined from 21 percent in the group with no physical activity plus low diet adherence to 9 percent in the group with much physical activity plus high diet adherence."
"In summary, our results support the potentially independent and important role of both physical activity and dietary habits in relation to AD risk. These findings should be further evaluated in other populations."
JAMA. 2009;302[6]:627-637.
Source
Journal of the American Medical Association
Research regarding the effect physical activity can have on the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) or dementia has shown mixed results, as has the effect of dietary habits. Their combined association has not been investigated, according to background information in the article.
Nikolaos Scarmeas, M.D., of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues examined the association between physical activity and risk of AD and also the effect of physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet on AD risk. The study included 2 groups that consisted of 1,880 community-dwelling elderly residents of New York city without dementia at the start of the study, for whom there was both diet and physical activity information available. Standardized neurological and neuropsychological measures were administered approximately every 1.5 years from 1992 through 2006.
The participants received measurements of their adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet (scale of 0-9; categorized as low, middle, or high) and their physical activity (sum of weekly participation in various physical activities, weighted by the type of physical activity [light, moderate, vigorous]; categorized into no physical activity, some, or much, also low or high), separately and combined. A higher score for diet was obtained with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish; lower consumption of meat and dairy products; a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats and mild to moderate alcohol consumption.
Individuals were followed up for an average of 5.4 years, during which a total of 282 developed AD. In considering only physical activity, the researchers found that more physical activity was associated with lower risk for developing AD. "Compared with physically inactive individuals, report of some physical activity was associated with a 29 percent to 41 percent lower risk of developing AD, while report of much physical activity was associated with a 37 percent to 50 percent lower risk," the authors write.
When considered simultaneously, both physical activity and Mediterranean diet adherence were significantly associated with AD incidence. According to the researchers, "Belonging to the middle diet adherence tertile was associated with a 2 percent to 14 percent risk reduction, while belonging to the highest diet adherence tertile was associated with a 32 percent to 40 percent reduced risk. Similarly, compared with individuals with no physical activity, individuals reporting some physical activity had a 25 percent to 38 percent lower risk for AD, while individuals reporting much physical activity had a 33 percent to 48 percent lower risk for AD."
The authors also write, "Compared with individuals with low physical activity plus low adherence to a diet (absolute AD risk, 19 percent), high physical activity plus high diet adherence was associated with a 35 percent to 44 percent relative risk reduction (absolute AD risk, 12 percent). ??¦ Absolute AD risks declined from 21 percent in the group with no physical activity plus low diet adherence to 9 percent in the group with much physical activity plus high diet adherence."
"In summary, our results support the potentially independent and important role of both physical activity and dietary habits in relation to AD risk. These findings should be further evaluated in other populations."
JAMA. 2009;302[6]:627-637.
Source
Journal of the American Medical Association
пятница, 14 октября 2011 г.
British Researchers Identify Link Between Childhood IQ And Vascular Dementia
Scottish researchers funded by the UK's leading dementia research charity, the Alzheimer's Research Trust, have found a link between childhood IQ and vascular dementia later in life.
Their research, published in the journal Neurology, found that lower childhood intelligence increases the risk of vascular dementia, a disease which currently affects 112,000 people in the UK. The results suggest that interventions to lower blood pressure and smoking targeted from early in life to those with a lower IQ could reduce the numbers of people developing dementia in old age. They also help scientists to understand what is happening in the brains of people with dementia and the best way to tackle different dementias.
Researchers based at the University of Edinburgh compared the records of 173 people who participated in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, when almost every child aged 11 years in Scotland took a mental ability test. They showed that lower childhood IQ increased the risk of vascular dementia, but not Alzheimer's disease. Because the difference was not seen in Alzheimer's, this suggests that increased risk of 'dementia' may be due to vascular causes.
Lead researcher, Dr Brian McGurn, formerly from the University of Edinburgh now based at Hairmyres hospital, East Kilbride said, "Our work suggests a possible link between mental ability in early life and risk of developing vascular dementia. The unique data available from the Scottish Mental Survey means the link can be demonstrated independent of factors like socio-economic status and education."
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust said, "This research confirms that vascular risk factors are very important in tackling dementia. If we live a healthier lifestyle and reduce our risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol and don't smoke, then this gives us a much better chance of avoiding dementia later in life.
With 700,000 people in the UK with dementia today, we urgently need to fund more research to find ways to prevent, treat or cure dementia, but research is seriously under-funded".
Notes
- The Alzheimer's Research Trust is the UK's leading research charity for dementia. For free information on dementia and the treatments available, visit alzheimers-research.uk or phone 01223 843899.
- Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease and is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking. There are 112,000 people with vascular dementia and 417,000 with Alzheimer's disease, and a total of 700,000 people with all types of dementia in the UK.
- The research 'Childhood cognitive ability and risk of late-onset Alzheimer and vascular dementia' by Dr Brian McGurn, Prof Ian Deary and Prof John Starr at the University of Edinburgh and is published in Neurology on 25th June 2008.
Alzheimer's Research Trust
Their research, published in the journal Neurology, found that lower childhood intelligence increases the risk of vascular dementia, a disease which currently affects 112,000 people in the UK. The results suggest that interventions to lower blood pressure and smoking targeted from early in life to those with a lower IQ could reduce the numbers of people developing dementia in old age. They also help scientists to understand what is happening in the brains of people with dementia and the best way to tackle different dementias.
Researchers based at the University of Edinburgh compared the records of 173 people who participated in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, when almost every child aged 11 years in Scotland took a mental ability test. They showed that lower childhood IQ increased the risk of vascular dementia, but not Alzheimer's disease. Because the difference was not seen in Alzheimer's, this suggests that increased risk of 'dementia' may be due to vascular causes.
Lead researcher, Dr Brian McGurn, formerly from the University of Edinburgh now based at Hairmyres hospital, East Kilbride said, "Our work suggests a possible link between mental ability in early life and risk of developing vascular dementia. The unique data available from the Scottish Mental Survey means the link can be demonstrated independent of factors like socio-economic status and education."
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust said, "This research confirms that vascular risk factors are very important in tackling dementia. If we live a healthier lifestyle and reduce our risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol and don't smoke, then this gives us a much better chance of avoiding dementia later in life.
With 700,000 people in the UK with dementia today, we urgently need to fund more research to find ways to prevent, treat or cure dementia, but research is seriously under-funded".
Notes
- The Alzheimer's Research Trust is the UK's leading research charity for dementia. For free information on dementia and the treatments available, visit alzheimers-research.uk or phone 01223 843899.
- Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease and is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking. There are 112,000 people with vascular dementia and 417,000 with Alzheimer's disease, and a total of 700,000 people with all types of dementia in the UK.
- The research 'Childhood cognitive ability and risk of late-onset Alzheimer and vascular dementia' by Dr Brian McGurn, Prof Ian Deary and Prof John Starr at the University of Edinburgh and is published in Neurology on 25th June 2008.
Alzheimer's Research Trust
вторник, 11 октября 2011 г.
Number Of People Diagnosed With Dementia In England Still Falling Short
New NHS statistics highlighting the number of people diagnosed with dementia do not accurately reflect the real number of people with the condition, according to Alzheimer's Society.
Figures released by the NHS (Quality and Outcomes Framework, QOF) show that almost 249,463 in England have been formally diagnosed with dementia which is a far cry from the true figure of 575,000 who have the condition.
Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Alzheimer's Society, says,
'The shockingly low diagnosis rates in England highlight that people are not visiting their GPs and even if they do, diagnoses are not being made. It is clear that there is a shortfall and we must increase understanding of dementia amongst the public and GPs to ensure a swift and timely diagnosis.'
Alzheimer's Society says there are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK, yet only a third of them have had a diagnosis. GPs are an important part of the diagnosis process and the low number of diagnoses is in part due to the lack of training in dementia available to GPs. Research also shows that many people concerned about memory problems put off going to see their GP.
Low awareness of the early signs of dementia and the treatment and support available are among the other reasons why people may not receive a diagnosis. Public and GP awareness of the symptoms of dementia and how people can live well with the condition needs to be improved.
However, people worried about their memory should still seek the help of their GP.
Andrew Chidgey adds,
'Forgetfulness is not uncommon amongst most people, but when it begins to affect daily life it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible. Memory loss can be a symptom of dementia, along with confusion and mood changes. The sooner people seek help the sooner they can get support and information.'
Earlier this year, Alzheimer's Society re-launched its Worried about your memory? campaign, which stresses the importance of seeking help if people are worried about their own memory or that of someone close to them. It involved leaflets and posters being delivered to 10,000 GP surgeries - almost every surgery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the re-launch in August, 4,000 people have requested an information booklet.
Notes
- The QOF is a voluntary annual reward and incentive programme for GPs across the England. It records the number of people diagnosed with dementia by GPs. Its aim is to improve the quality of care patients are given by rewarding practices for the quality of care they provide.
- There are more than 8,000 GP surgeries in the England and over 10,000 across the UK.
- The initiative follows the successful launch of Worried about your memory? in 2009 which reached 80,000 people after leaflets were delivered to GPs across the country. Of those who requested further information, one in five went on to get a diagnosis. The campaign was relaunched in August 2010.
- To find out more about dementia visit here.
Fact about dementia
- Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes and confusion
- Dementia affects everyone in different ways, but you should seek help without delay if your memory is not as good as it used to be and especially if you:
- struggle to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past
- find it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV
- forget the names of friends or everyday objects
- cannot recall things you have heard, seen or read
- notice that you repeat yourself or lose the thread of what you are saying
- have problems thinking and reasoning
- feel anxious, depressed or angry about your forgetfulness
- find that other people start to comment on your forgetfulness
- feel confused even when in a familiar environment.
- One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
Source:
Alzheimer's Society
Figures released by the NHS (Quality and Outcomes Framework, QOF) show that almost 249,463 in England have been formally diagnosed with dementia which is a far cry from the true figure of 575,000 who have the condition.
Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Alzheimer's Society, says,
'The shockingly low diagnosis rates in England highlight that people are not visiting their GPs and even if they do, diagnoses are not being made. It is clear that there is a shortfall and we must increase understanding of dementia amongst the public and GPs to ensure a swift and timely diagnosis.'
Alzheimer's Society says there are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK, yet only a third of them have had a diagnosis. GPs are an important part of the diagnosis process and the low number of diagnoses is in part due to the lack of training in dementia available to GPs. Research also shows that many people concerned about memory problems put off going to see their GP.
Low awareness of the early signs of dementia and the treatment and support available are among the other reasons why people may not receive a diagnosis. Public and GP awareness of the symptoms of dementia and how people can live well with the condition needs to be improved.
However, people worried about their memory should still seek the help of their GP.
Andrew Chidgey adds,
'Forgetfulness is not uncommon amongst most people, but when it begins to affect daily life it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible. Memory loss can be a symptom of dementia, along with confusion and mood changes. The sooner people seek help the sooner they can get support and information.'
Earlier this year, Alzheimer's Society re-launched its Worried about your memory? campaign, which stresses the importance of seeking help if people are worried about their own memory or that of someone close to them. It involved leaflets and posters being delivered to 10,000 GP surgeries - almost every surgery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the re-launch in August, 4,000 people have requested an information booklet.
Notes
- The QOF is a voluntary annual reward and incentive programme for GPs across the England. It records the number of people diagnosed with dementia by GPs. Its aim is to improve the quality of care patients are given by rewarding practices for the quality of care they provide.
- There are more than 8,000 GP surgeries in the England and over 10,000 across the UK.
- The initiative follows the successful launch of Worried about your memory? in 2009 which reached 80,000 people after leaflets were delivered to GPs across the country. Of those who requested further information, one in five went on to get a diagnosis. The campaign was relaunched in August 2010.
- To find out more about dementia visit here.
Fact about dementia
- Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes and confusion
- Dementia affects everyone in different ways, but you should seek help without delay if your memory is not as good as it used to be and especially if you:
- struggle to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past
- find it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV
- forget the names of friends or everyday objects
- cannot recall things you have heard, seen or read
- notice that you repeat yourself or lose the thread of what you are saying
- have problems thinking and reasoning
- feel anxious, depressed or angry about your forgetfulness
- find that other people start to comment on your forgetfulness
- feel confused even when in a familiar environment.
- One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
Source:
Alzheimer's Society
суббота, 8 октября 2011 г.
Synosia Therapeutics Begins Phase I Trial Of A New Generation Treatment For Cognitive Impairment In Alzheimer's Disease And Schizophrenia
Synosia Therapeutics announced today that it has started a Phase I clinical trial of SYN-120, its new generation 5-HT6 antagonist under development for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. The study will assess the safety and tolerability of single ascending doses of SYN-120 in healthy volunteers.
Dr Ian Massey, Chief Executive Officer and President of Synosia Therapeutics said: "It's a tribute to our team to be launching this study within months of acquiring SYN-120 through our partnership with Roche. It demonstrates our ability to efficiently and rapidly initiate and conduct clinical trials and to shorten the product development cycle".
Alzheimer's is an incurable disease, predominantly occurring in the elderly. Driven by the ageing population, prevalence of the disease is expected to double by 2025. Industry analysts Lead Discovery state that revenues of approved Alzheimer's disease drugs across major markets (US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) totalled over $3bn in 2006, with revenues expected to exceed $5bn by 2012.
Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness, affecting about 24 million people worldwide. Cognitive impairment has long been recognised as a core feature of schizophrenia. It is present in the majority of patients, independent of symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, and a major cause of poor social and vocational outcome. There are currently no medications approved for the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
About SYN-120
SYN-120, a potent and selective antagonist of the 5-HT6 receptor, was discovered by Roche and is now under development by Synosia for the treatment of cognitive impairment. Antagonism of 5-HT6 receptors, which are expressed exclusively in regions of the brain associated with cognition, results in increased concentrations of acetylcholine and glutamate in these regions. Currently, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are the mainstay for treatment of Alzheimer's. SYN-120 is anticipated to be more efficacious than the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and also to be devoid of the side effects (e.g. nausea and vomiting) of this class that result from non-selective increases in acetylcholine in organs other than the brain. Preclinical studies in a variety of models have shown that 5-HT6 antagonists have the potential to help reverse the cognitive losses brought about by Alzheimer's disease and to improve executive function in schizophrenics.
Source
Synosia
Dr Ian Massey, Chief Executive Officer and President of Synosia Therapeutics said: "It's a tribute to our team to be launching this study within months of acquiring SYN-120 through our partnership with Roche. It demonstrates our ability to efficiently and rapidly initiate and conduct clinical trials and to shorten the product development cycle".
Alzheimer's is an incurable disease, predominantly occurring in the elderly. Driven by the ageing population, prevalence of the disease is expected to double by 2025. Industry analysts Lead Discovery state that revenues of approved Alzheimer's disease drugs across major markets (US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) totalled over $3bn in 2006, with revenues expected to exceed $5bn by 2012.
Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness, affecting about 24 million people worldwide. Cognitive impairment has long been recognised as a core feature of schizophrenia. It is present in the majority of patients, independent of symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, and a major cause of poor social and vocational outcome. There are currently no medications approved for the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
About SYN-120
SYN-120, a potent and selective antagonist of the 5-HT6 receptor, was discovered by Roche and is now under development by Synosia for the treatment of cognitive impairment. Antagonism of 5-HT6 receptors, which are expressed exclusively in regions of the brain associated with cognition, results in increased concentrations of acetylcholine and glutamate in these regions. Currently, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are the mainstay for treatment of Alzheimer's. SYN-120 is anticipated to be more efficacious than the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and also to be devoid of the side effects (e.g. nausea and vomiting) of this class that result from non-selective increases in acetylcholine in organs other than the brain. Preclinical studies in a variety of models have shown that 5-HT6 antagonists have the potential to help reverse the cognitive losses brought about by Alzheimer's disease and to improve executive function in schizophrenics.
Source
Synosia
среда, 5 октября 2011 г.
Good enzyme for Alzheimer disease ADAM
A disintegrin-metalloproteinase prevents amyloid plaque formation and hippocampal defects in an Alzheimer disease mouse model.
Alzheimer Disease (AD), a progressive neurological disorder, is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques are comprised of aggregates of amyloid beta-peptides (AB peptides), which are believed to play a central role in disease development. Most strategies to prevent AD have been aimed at reducing the generation of amyloid beta-peptides.
This is done by targeting specific enzymes, beta- and gamma-secretase, in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) degradation pathway, which sequentially cleave APP to form the Ab peptide. Falk Fahrenholz and colleagues at the University of Mainz, Germany, now provide evidence that targeting and alternative enzyme, alpha-secretase, might be a useful alternative strategy for reducing AB peptide.
In the APP processing pathway, alpha-secretase cleavage of APP generates an alternative breakdown product of the protein that cannot generate AB peptide. Here the researchers use a mouse model deficient in or over expressing the gene ADAM10, which codes for alpha-secretase protein.
In these studies, they find that moderate increased expression of ADAM10 in mice reduced AB peptide formation, prevented plaque formation, and, from a functional standpoint provided improvement in both long-term potentiation and cognitive impairment. On the other hand, mice lacking ADAM10 had increased number and size of amyloid plaques.
The data here provide evidence that a-secretase might be a useful therapeutic target for AD, and also suggest that impairment of this enzyme might underlie some forms of the disease.
An accompanying commentary by Christian Haas and Stefan F. Lichtenthaler provides details on the APP degradation pathway and places this work and AD in this context.
TITLE: A disintegrin-metalloproteinase prevents amyloid plaque formation and hippocampal defects in an Alzheimer disease mouse model
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Falk Fahrenholz
University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
View the PDF of this article at: https://the-jci/press/20864.pdf
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY: Amyloid at the cutting edge: activation of a-secretase prevents amyloidogenesis in an Alzheimer disease mouse model
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Christian Haass
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich, Germany.
View the PDF of this commentary at: https://the-jci/press/21746.pdf
Contact: Laurie Goodman
press_releasesthe-jci
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Alzheimer Disease (AD), a progressive neurological disorder, is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques are comprised of aggregates of amyloid beta-peptides (AB peptides), which are believed to play a central role in disease development. Most strategies to prevent AD have been aimed at reducing the generation of amyloid beta-peptides.
This is done by targeting specific enzymes, beta- and gamma-secretase, in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) degradation pathway, which sequentially cleave APP to form the Ab peptide. Falk Fahrenholz and colleagues at the University of Mainz, Germany, now provide evidence that targeting and alternative enzyme, alpha-secretase, might be a useful alternative strategy for reducing AB peptide.
In the APP processing pathway, alpha-secretase cleavage of APP generates an alternative breakdown product of the protein that cannot generate AB peptide. Here the researchers use a mouse model deficient in or over expressing the gene ADAM10, which codes for alpha-secretase protein.
In these studies, they find that moderate increased expression of ADAM10 in mice reduced AB peptide formation, prevented plaque formation, and, from a functional standpoint provided improvement in both long-term potentiation and cognitive impairment. On the other hand, mice lacking ADAM10 had increased number and size of amyloid plaques.
The data here provide evidence that a-secretase might be a useful therapeutic target for AD, and also suggest that impairment of this enzyme might underlie some forms of the disease.
An accompanying commentary by Christian Haas and Stefan F. Lichtenthaler provides details on the APP degradation pathway and places this work and AD in this context.
TITLE: A disintegrin-metalloproteinase prevents amyloid plaque formation and hippocampal defects in an Alzheimer disease mouse model
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Falk Fahrenholz
University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
View the PDF of this article at: https://the-jci/press/20864.pdf
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY: Amyloid at the cutting edge: activation of a-secretase prevents amyloidogenesis in an Alzheimer disease mouse model
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Christian Haass
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich, Germany.
View the PDF of this commentary at: https://the-jci/press/21746.pdf
Contact: Laurie Goodman
press_releasesthe-jci
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
воскресенье, 2 октября 2011 г.
Study Finds Possible Link Between Tooth Loss, Dementia
Tooth loss may predict the development of dementia late in life, according to a study by University of Kentucky researchers.
The researcher, led by Pamela Sparks Stein in the UK College of Medicine's Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, used data collected from 144 participants in the Nun Study, a study of aging and Alzheimer's disease among Catholic sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
"Of the participants who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth zero to nine had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the researchers reported in a paper published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
The researchers relied on dental records and annual cognitive exams of the Nun Study participants in the order's Milwaukee province. The participants' ages ranged from 75 to 98 years old.
Numerous past studies have shown that patients with dementia are more likely to have poor dental health than patients without dementia. Few researchers, however, have examined whether poor oral health may contribute to the development of dementia.
The UK research team which includes Mark Desrosiers of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Sara Jean Donegan of the Marquette University School of Dentistry, Juan F. Yepes of the UK colleges of Dentistry and Medicine, and Richard J. Kryscio, chair of the Department of Biostatistics in the UK College of Public Health proposes several possible reasons for the association between tooth loss and dementia, including periodontal disease and early-life nutritional deficiencies, infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.
The researchers caution that further study is needed to confirm whether tooth loss has any real role in bringing on dementia. "It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they write, urging further study.
JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry.
In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for a new Commonwealth a Kentucky that is healthier, better educated, and positioned to compete in a global and changing economy. For more information about UK's efforts to become a Top 20 university, please go to uky/OPBPA/Top20.html
University of Kentucky
102A Mathews Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40506-0047
United States
uky
The researcher, led by Pamela Sparks Stein in the UK College of Medicine's Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, used data collected from 144 participants in the Nun Study, a study of aging and Alzheimer's disease among Catholic sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
"Of the participants who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth zero to nine had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the researchers reported in a paper published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
The researchers relied on dental records and annual cognitive exams of the Nun Study participants in the order's Milwaukee province. The participants' ages ranged from 75 to 98 years old.
Numerous past studies have shown that patients with dementia are more likely to have poor dental health than patients without dementia. Few researchers, however, have examined whether poor oral health may contribute to the development of dementia.
The UK research team which includes Mark Desrosiers of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Sara Jean Donegan of the Marquette University School of Dentistry, Juan F. Yepes of the UK colleges of Dentistry and Medicine, and Richard J. Kryscio, chair of the Department of Biostatistics in the UK College of Public Health proposes several possible reasons for the association between tooth loss and dementia, including periodontal disease and early-life nutritional deficiencies, infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.
The researchers caution that further study is needed to confirm whether tooth loss has any real role in bringing on dementia. "It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they write, urging further study.
JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry.
In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for a new Commonwealth a Kentucky that is healthier, better educated, and positioned to compete in a global and changing economy. For more information about UK's efforts to become a Top 20 university, please go to uky/OPBPA/Top20.html
University of Kentucky
102A Mathews Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40506-0047
United States
uky
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