World Health Organization noted that the common dementia "Alzheimer's disease", in 2010 more than 35 million patients worldwide, nearly double by 2030, according to statistics in 2012 Taiwan's part of about 170,000 people with dementia people, estimated in 2036 30 million 2056 62 million people, then how old are you? In the description below sounds so horrible, many scientists involved in research efforts to prevent disaster to expand, recently there are a number of new discoveries.
Found that the initiator of Alzheimer suspects
Accumulate around neurons in the brain amyloid β protein is considered to be one of the suspects Alzheimer's disease, researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that produce β amyloid A BACE-1 enzyme, with something called the "former amyloid protein" make the connection, and then cut into sections before amyloid protein, so if the front amyloid protein and BACE-1 are separated, you can prevent β amyloid production.The study finally solved before the past who is causing amyloid protein is cut into sections of the puzzle.
This was published in the latest issue of "Neuron" journals (Neuron) the study , respectively, in human and rat brain neurons and organization completed the experiment, they found that a healthy brain, the former amyloid protein BACE-1 when they remain isolated in the resulting state, unable to interact with each other and, therefore, does not produce β amyloid. Team Subhojit Roy Dr. parable to separate them, so that a match can not touch like gunpowder, naturally, will not explode. With this layer of understanding, you can create a new vision to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
to find a way (left) to isolate the former amyloid protein (APP, the figure) with BACE-1 (pictured right), will not produce β amyloid. (Photo Credit: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine)
Two suspects have their source
Although Subhojit Roy research solved a puzzle, but it does not mean that all the answers, because in addition to β amyloid accumulation is generated, another tau protein also.Earlier a sample for 1269 tau protein study found that several genes related to some extent it is saying. Genes and Neurology, University of Washington, Dr. Alison M. Goate said they measured CSF tau protein and confirmed several genes and cause a lot of tau protein, whereas three of them with the β amyloid protein is not related.
As for the gene APOE, in the past it has been found that β amyloid related, this study found that it also affects both help explain Alzheimer's genes have little impact. On the other hand, in their study sample, also found in some samples with a large number of β amyloid protein, but did not develop Alzheimer's disease, researchers did not confirm their reasons, but perhaps this inference with tau protein inadequate. Thus, tau protein, or can be used as a predictive indicator of disease progression, when the tau protein increases, people are more likely to suffer from dementia. Drug development can be lowered to the amount of tau protein, thereby preventing or delaying onset of the disease. The study, published in the "neurons" journal.
top left is the accumulation of protein caused by tau neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid β protein in the lower right corner is caused by the accumulation of class blocks. (Photo Credit: Nigel Cairns, PhD)
Two suspects became a murderer cooperation
Another study then for β amyloid accumulation occurs with the same situation tau protein made closer look and found that the original two unrelated suspects, in fact, are common causes of Alzheimer's disease. Oregon Health & Science University (Oregon Health & Science University) Hemachandra Reddy Dr. The study points when these two interact, it will hurt the end of the synapses of neurons, which will cause Alzheimer's disease Patients disintegration cognitive consequences.
This was published in "Alzheimer's" journal (Journal of Alzheimer's Disease) study to humans and mice were dead brain tissue as the goal, the more frequently found when the two interact, Alzheimer's condition more serious. The use of multiple antibodies observation, they found that β amyloid and tau protein complex, the more severe Alzheimer's disease, the more complex. Alzheimer's disease relative to no control group, almost no complex appears. Their next study is to identify β amyloid and tau proteins interact with the host, as well as curb their exposure approach
(Opening Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)
