Scientists from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), the Life Sciences Programme at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and the National Institute for Bioinformatics (INB) have published a provisional "atlas" of the dynamic
Research published on-line in European Heart Journal has found that the protective effect that tea has on the cardiovascular system is totally wiped out by adding milk.Tests on vo
For the first time researchers investigate the molecular basis of memory in living mice.Phone numbers, the way to work, granny's birthday - our brain with its finite number of nerve cells can store incredible amounts of information. At the bott
The House later this week plans to vote on a measure (HR 3, S 5) -- called the Stem Cell Research Enhancemen
Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly plan to propose legislation that would authorize human embryonic stem cell research in the state, Jesse Furgeson, spokesperson for state House Democratic Caucus Chair Brian Moran, said recently, the
Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), has issued the following statement on H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007."I commend Speaker P
By all expectations, it shouldn't have worked as well as it did. A combination of bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy greatly lengthened the lives of laboratory mice doomed by a rapidly progressing, fatal neurodegenerative disorder also found
Scientists have revealed the intricate structure of cartilage in what they hope will provide clues to how the crippling joint disease osteoarthritis might one day be treated.The disease, which affects more than five million people in the UK, is
Tests on three human colon cancer cell lines showed that the fat-hormone 'leptin' may enhance the growth of colonic cancers. This finding could show why obese people are at increased risk of colon cancer. It could also point to new modes of tre
A researcher at Montana State University has called for an innovative, new approach in developing a vaccine against genital herpes.In an editorial published in the January issue of
Date: Tuesday, 21-Nov-2006
Canadian scientists have found a specific gene which they believe may hold the key to the degenerative brain disorder Alzheimer's disease.Lead researcher Weihong Song, a professor of psychiatry who holds a Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's disease at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, says the results of their study with mice found that lower oxygen levels (hypoxia) increased the activity of a specific gene.
The gene called BACE 1, encodes a protein that converts the precursor amyloid molecule to the more dangerous beta-amyloid form.
Professor Song says if blood to the brain is less oxygenated it may mean a build-up of the protein plaques that are so closely tied to Alzheimer's disease
In mice, hypoxia was found to increase amyloid plaque formation and memory loss.
The fact that lowered brain-oxygen levels, caused by reduced blood flow, increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, is not a new theory and people who have suffered a stroke have a two or three times increased risk of dementia.
Other experts say however that the situation is far more complex and there is debate about whether the amyloid plaques cause the loss of mental function seen in Alzheimer's disease and they believe the study represents only a hypothesis rather than establishing an association.
But most are in agreement with Song that the health of the cardiovascular system is very important for the health of the brain, and the one promotes the health of the other.
Song says if blood flow to the brain can be improved, maybe the progression of Alzheimer's can be slowed down.
The study is published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.