Focus Articles | Back to Alzheimer's Disease

2004

Alzheimer's Study Maps Alternate Route to Disease - April 16, 2004.
Presenilins linked to loss-of-function dementia, they may promote plaque formation.

Early Step in Protein-folding Revealed by Bacterial Mutant - February 6, 2004.
Mistakes in protein folding are thought to play a role in a wide variety of illnesses from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human equivalent of mad cow, to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Recent findings about the early folding stage may be useful in future therapies.

One-way Calcium Channel Pinpointed Within the Cell - February 6, 2004.
Mitochondria absorb calcium to rev up the cellular energy needed to think, breathe, and grow. But, too much of a good thing may cause the dementia leading to Alzheimers.

A Back-end Attack Against Alzheimer's Plaque - January 23, 2004.
Boosting levels of either of two proteases in neurons protects mice from the buildup of toxic proteins in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, opening the door for new therapeutic approaches.

2003

New Twist Reported in Blocking Plaque-forming Proteins - September 12, 2003.
Corkscrew-shaped molecules appear to block cells from making the plaque-forming protein pieces implicated in Alzheimer's disease, say the researchers who designed them.

Compound Traces Brain Plaques in Real Time - October 10, 2003.
Amyloid ligand may give clinicians needed tool to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer's.

Enzyme Stands Guard Against Nerve Cell Death - August 29, 2003.
Researchers have discovered a potential enzyme protector produced in the brain whose molecular activity, like cerebral activity in general, may guard against the nerve cell deterioration characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Early Molecule Fingered as an Alzheimer's Cause - August 29, 2003.
Mutant precursor protein shown to kill neurons in disease model.

Immune Cells Deal Death Blow to Damaged Neurons - July 11, 2003.
Catching a common cold may take an additional toll on people with Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and other neurodegenerat diseases--producing accelerated neuronal loss along with sneezes, coughs, and fever.

Alzheimer's Culprit Fingered as Gang of Four - June 6, 2003.
Now it seems that the protein players collectively responsible for gamma-secretase's activity have been caught, which may point the way to better therapies.

Alzheimer's Marker Revealed in Eye - April 18, 2003.
The amyloid-beta protein forming plaques in Alzheimer's disease patients brains also show in the lenses of their eyes. This discovery could lead to tests for diagnosing and monitoring the disease.

Small Oligomers May Spawn Parkinson's - March 21, 2003.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are associated with large insoluble protein inclusions. Now scientists have found even normal neurons contain small oligomers (variants) of the protein.

Molecular Movies Catch Mitochondria Dividing - March 7, 2003.
Defects in mitochondria, linked to diseases like Alzheimers, have been reproduced in 3 D images. New tests, models, and hypotheses may result, leading to insights for neurodegenerative diseases.

Method Captures Early Culprit in Alzheimer's - January 10, 2003.
For more than a century, Alzheimer's symptoms were thought to be plaques--dense deposits of A-beta protein. That thinking has changed.

2002

Lack of ApoE Lowers Blood-Brain Barrier, May Raise Alzheimer's Risk - Jan. 11, 2002.
Many questions remain about the blood-brain barrier, the extremely tight intercellular junctions, that can only be crossed by lipid mediation or catalyzed transport.

Cellular Energy Crisis May Link Down Syndrome, Alzheimer's - March 22, 2002.
Glitch in power-generating mitochondria could upset amyloid processing.

2001

Genetic Link Discovered for Late Onset Alzheimer's - Jan. 12, 2001.
Findings suggest new era in Alzheimer's treatment.

Majority of Alzheimer's Plaques Cleared from Brains of Living Mice - March 9, 2001.
Experiment provides critical proof-of-principle, not near-term cure.

Circadian Rhythms May Distinguish Alzheimer's Disease - April 20, 2001.
Discovery could lead to treatments for life-changing sleep disturbances.

Fly Model of Alzheimer's Starts Untangling Disease - June 22, 2001.
Recent advances in Alzheimer's research have implicated several proteins in the pathology of this debilitating disease.

An Alternate Take on Alzheimer's - July 13, 2001.
Oxidation of trace metals in the brain might cause disease.

The Case of the Misnamed Kinase - Sept. 28, 2001.
It is now crystal clear how a protein pair could conspire in Alzheimer's and other brain diseases.