WASHINGTON: Scientists have developed synthetic peptides that target and inhibit the formation of small, toxic proteins that trigger Alzheimer's disease.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help treat the neurodegenerative disorder at an early stage.
Alzheimer's disease is an aggregation disorder. Neurons in the human brain produce a protein called beta-amyloid. Such proteins, called beta-amyloid monomers, fulfill important tasks for neurons.
World Day of Parkinson's Disease: Coffee, Nuts and Fish Can Boost Brain Power
Stop cognitive decline early
April 11, 2019
Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease, affects the mobility and locomotion of the aging population.
Disabling disease occurs in the elderly (between the ages of 50 and 65) when brain cells are damaged. Dopamine, the brain's natural chemical, is responsible for communication between nerve cells. The disease develops when the brain is unable to produce dopamine and starts to abnormally store a protein called "Lewy body" in the dark substance, a part that controls the movement.
The symptoms of the disease – resting tremor, bradykinesia or slow movements, and muscular stiffness – develop gradually over the years. In most cases, the cause of the disease is not known.
On the occasion of World Parkinson's Day, here are some foods that can strengthen your cognitive abilities and help you get back on track.
Something fishy!
April 11, 2019
According to a study conducted by the University of Chalmers Technology in Sweden, a protein called parvalbumin – common in many species of fish – can improve cognitive health in the long term. Fish protein uses Parkinson's protein for its own use, preventing them from harming brain cells.
Cup of joy
April 11, 2019
Two studies published in the Journal of Frontiers in Neuroscience and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences emphasize the importance of coffee in the fight against Parkinson's disease.
The Journal has focused on the roasting process of coffee beans. When the coffee is roasted, it generates phenylindans that inhibit the formation of lumps on two proteins, beta-amyloid and tau. Therefore, dark roasted coffee beans are better than light roasts because the process leads to higher amounts of phenylindans.
The other study suggested that a new compound found in coffee – EHT (Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide) – can fight Parkinson's disease.
Healthy eating
April 11, 2019
A study presented by the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil indicates that the consumption of a low calorie diet can protect the brain from the death of neuronal cells that can lead to Parkinson's disease. He also said that eating more calories directly affects the performance of different cells.
Santa of the plant world
April 11, 2019
According to a study published in the journal Redox Biology, a shrub native to California – Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) – is the key to reversing the symptoms of a neurological disease.
The plant contains a compound called Sterubin that removes iron, which helps to damage nerve cells during neurodegenerative diseases.
The shrub is also known to treat respiratory ailments, fever and headaches.
However, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta-monomers have dropped out of work and have regrouped.
First, they form oligomers – small mbades of a dozen proteins – then longer strands and finally large deposits called plates.
For years, scientists have thought that plaques cause the cognitive impairments characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. However, new research involves smaller aggregates of beta-amyloid as the toxic elements of this disease.
Researchers at the University of Washington in the United States have developed synthetic peptides (designed to integrate with a structure called alpha leaf) that can block beta-amyloid aggregation at the earliest and most toxic stage when the formation of oligomers.
The team showed that blocking activity of the synthetic alpha leaf reduced the toxicity triggered by amyloid beta in cultured human neural cells and inhibited beta-oligomers of amyloid in two Animal laboratory models for Alzheimer's disease.
These findings add evidence to the growing consensus that amyloid beta-oligomers – and not plaques – are the toxic agents at the origin of Alzheimer's disease.
The results also indicate that synthetic alpha sheets could form the basis of the therapy to remove toxic oligomers in humans, according to Valerie Daggett, a professor at the University of Washington.
"It's about targeting a specific structure of beta-amyloid formed by toxic oligomers," said Daggett.
"What we have shown here, is that we can design and build synthetic alpha sheets with complementary structures to inhibit the aggregation and toxicity of the beta-amyloid substance, while leaving intact the biologically active monomers, "she said.
World No Tobacco Day: Smoking Can Hurts Eyes, Bones and Brain
Thrill Kills
May 31, 2018
Most smokers think that smoking is cool. No matter how you do it, tobacco is dangerous for your health. Tobacco contains more than 7,000 toxins and 70 known carcinogens (chemicals that increase the risk of cancer) and can damage almost every organ in the body.
Dr. Sachin Kumar, Senior Consultant in Respirology at Sakra World Hospital, explains how smoking affects all parts of your body.
The next time you are tempted to make an effort, stop just a minute and think about the consequences of your indulgence.
Brain
May 31, 2018
Smoking generally helps smokers to relax in the short term. But, this has a huge price in the long run. Smoking causes addiction and anxiety. It changes brain chemistry and can increase the risk of stroke.
Mouth and throat
May 31, 2018
Cancer of the mouth and throat is common among smokers. In addition, smoking can also lead to gum disease, premature tooth loss, tooth discoloration, etc.
lungs
May 31, 2018
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, is growing because of smoking. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes breathing difficulties, is another common cause of death among smokers. Chronic bronchitis, bronchial inflammation that also causes breathing difficulties, is mainly due to smoking.
Smoking also increases the risk of other infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.
Heart
May 31, 2018
Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease. Regular smokers, as well as pbadive / pbadive smokers, are at high risk for heart disease.
Tobacco also contributes to heart problems by reducing the good cholesterol (HDL) and increasing the bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides) in the body.
Peptides protected laboratory animals from damage by toxic oligomers. In mouse brain tissue samples, the team observed a fall in amyloid beta-oligomer levels of up to 82% after treatment with a synthetic alpha-peptide.
The administration of a synthetic alpha leaf to live mice caused a 40% fall in amyloid beta-oligomeric levels after 24 hours.
In the common laboratory worm Caenorhabditis elegans, another model for Alzheimer's disease, a treatment with synthetic alpha leaves delayed the onset of beta amyloid-induced paralysis.
The Daggett team continues its experiments with synthetic alpha sheets in order to develop even better compounds for the removal of amyloid beta-oligomers.
"What we are really looking for are potential treatments for beta-amyloid and diagnostic measures to detect toxic oligomers in humans," said Daggett.
Next Horizon of Science: AI to diagnose cerebral hemorrhage, spaceship for tra …
Tech Surprises
Sep 7, 2018
From the AI who can diagnose a stroke to scientists who use antimatter for a truck ride, here is all that is exciting about the technologies that will shape our future. (Text: Rajarshi Bhattacharjee)
A machine to stop climate change
Sep 7, 2018
Hate carbon dioxide to warm the planet? Switzerland has a giant machine that sucks carbon dioxide from the air and works better than plants. In essence, it is a gigantic artificial tree. Zime Climeworks AG, based in Zurich, is the world's first facility to capture atmospheric CO2 in the industry. The amount (900 tonnes) of carbon dioxide that the plant takes each year is approximately the same as the amount emitted by 200 cars at the same time.
(Image: www.climeworks.com)
A faster diagnosis of cerebral hemorrhage with IA
Sep 7, 2018
Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, USA, developed an artificial intelligence platform that could identify the disease in a 1.2 second cerebral computed tomography scan and diagnose a diagnosis. series of acute neurological diseases, such as stroke and haemorrhage. The study shows that the system was faster than the human diagnosis. This is the first study to use AI to detect acute neurologic events and to demonstrate direct clinical application.
A spaceship for intergalactic travel
Sep 7, 2018
Remember the hunting boats led by Valerian (Dane DeHaan) in the movie 2017 Valerian and the city with a thousand planets? The American design and technology company Lexus has developed a concept of a single-seater futuristic vehicle called Skyjet, which will take future human beings on intergalactic journeys. Powered by a compact fuel cell capsule, the Skyjet will fly around 2740 with clean, renewable energy.
(Image: www.lexus.co.uk)
A little space for more memory
Sep 7, 2018
The densest and strongest memory in history is here. It may soon exceed the capabilities of today's hard drives by 1,000 times. Scientists from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, claim that they can use hydrogen atoms to increase their storage capacity. They were able to achieve a storage density of 128 TB per square inch. That's more than the current 10 TB hard drives, which have about 512 GB per square inch.
