Scientists discover compound that arrests neurodegeneration in mice

http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Newspublications/News/MRC009466

by kjhughes • 13 years ago

36 7 13 years ago

mrc.ac.uk

kjhughes• 13 years ago

See also (a) for context and implications:

"Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24462699

(b) the original paper's abstract (full paper is pay-walled, unfortunately):

"Oral Treatment Targeting the Unfolded Protein Response Prevents Neurodegeneration and Clinical Disease in Prion-Infected Mice" http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/5/206/206ra138

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Does anyone know how representative the rodent model of prion disease is of the human model of Alzheimer's?

danmaz74• 13 years ago

The article says: "The researchers studied mice with prion disease because these mouse models currently provide the best animal representation of human neurodegenerative disorders in which the build up of misshapen proteins is linked with brain cell death. These include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as prion diseases. Another paper in Nature Neuroscience last month highlighted this pathway as a potential therapeutic target in treating Alzheimer’s."

ckayatek• 13 years ago

The pathway they study is conserved from mice to humans so the results may be relevant. That being said I don't know whether this pathway is involved in Alzheimer's disease. What's more interesting is the mechanism of the curing. One often proposed model for dealing with neurodegeneration is to enhance naturally existing pathways in a cell that deal with misfolded proteins. The authors of this paper do the opposite. They found that this natural response was being overinduced in mice with prion disease and inhibiting it actually made them better. Certainly worth trying in other mouse models.

Tloewald• 13 years ago

It must be awesome being a mouse. Cancer has been cured in mice. So has Alzheimer's. AIDS.

Reminds me of the Secret of NIMH.

blacksqr• 13 years ago

They buried the lead. Also promotes weight loss.

jjp9999• 13 years ago

The only way to kill them will be to destroy their brains...

shiven• 13 years ago

Damn paper is hidden behind piece-of-shit paywall! Paying the Impact Factor Tax, supporting an exploitative business model.

Scientists discover compound that arrests neurodegeneration in mice

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