Epileptic seizures are caused by sudden bursts of excess electrical activity in the brain, leading to a temporary breakdown in normal communication between brain cells. Although it was originally believed that neurones were solely responsible for signalling in the nervous…
Blog Archives
Faulty ‘Garbage Disposal’ in Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the huntingtin gene. The altered huntingtin protein (htt) causes gradual neurological damage; HD usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50 and symptoms get worse over the next…
Challenging the Role of PI3 Kinase in Alzheimer’s
Conventional wisdom, supported by in vitro experiments, has previously suggested that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) plays a protective role in Alzheimer’s disease. However, a team led by researchers at Cold Spring Harbor has now implicated PI3K in the pathogenesis of the…
Teenagers Really Are Different
Puberty is a time of great physical and emotional changes and studies have shown that some skills are most easily acquired before – or after – puberty. Working with mice, scientists at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn have now…
Ritalin® Circuits Revealed
The dopamine reuptake inhibitor, Ritalin® (methylphenidate) has been used for almost 50 years to treat children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, more recently – and controversially, has been used by students to enhance academic performance and as a recreational…
Narcolepsy Established as Autoimmune Disorder
Although the disorder is not very well known, narcolepsy is thought to affect 1 in 2000 individuals and this figure may be higher as a consequence of under-reporting and under-diagnosis. The most common symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which…
Promise on the Horizon for Huntington’s
Results from a phase II trial of the experimental drug Dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington’s disease have provided indications that it may improve cognition. The drug, being developed by Medivation, Inc., is also in Phase III trials for Alzheimer’s…
Neuroprotective Small Molecule TrkB Agonist
Roles have been suggested for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – which helps to support neurons and also stimulates and controls neurogenesis – in preventing or treating degenerative diseases such amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The use of…
Correct Protein Folding
Neurons are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of misfolded proteins and the accumulation of such species has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease, amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (prion diseases). Hereditary protein…
Opposing Roles for Brain Macrophages
Systemic infection and inflammation lead to release of cytokines, such as IL-1, which activate the brain’s stress response mechanisms, producing typical symptoms such as lethargy, fever, and lack of appetite. In response to inflammation or infection, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing…
