Neurodegenerative Disease
The key to the future in an aging society is not found in increasing just our life span; we need to increase our health span at the same time - Chuck Norris

image by: Neuroscience News and Research
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The neural economics of brain aging
Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic, progressive processes that present almost exclusively in late life. They are in common characterized by the accumulation of various forms of protein aggregates accompanied by neurodegeneration. These neuropathological hallmarks herald pathogenic cascades from the molecular to systems level encompassing proteostatic stress, neuroinflammation, synaptic loss, neuronal dysfunction and network failure with genetic studies demonstrating that accumulation of the aggregates themselves are indeed the primary etiological driver. These processes evolve to distribute across the brain in characteristic patterns, causing commensurate patterns of functional decline…
Resources
This may be a turning point in treating neurodegenerative diseases
Success in trials for Huntington’s and Spinal Muscular Atrophy raises hopes that diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS could be tackled using a new class of drugs.
Do adult human brains renew their neurons?
One paper says “yes”. Another says “no”
How COVID-19 Attacks The Brain And May Cause Lasting Damage
Many patients who are hospitalized for COVID-19 are discharged with symptoms such as those associated with a brain injury. These include "forgetfulness that impairs their ability to function," de Erausquin says. "They complain about trouble with organizing their tasks, and that entails things such as being able to prepare a meal."
The dementia that can be cured
There are more than 200 subtypes of dementia. And researchers have found that in one, confusion and memory loss can be treated. But the trick is to spot it…
An unexpected pathway to treating neurodegenerative diseases
Scientific success stories can sometimes occur when therapies being studied for one disease can be used to treat another.
Drug treatment targets mutant proteins to stop neurodegenerative diseases
Designer therapies are treatments tailored to a specific disease, and nowhere is the need greater for new therapies than in a group of nervous system disorders, known as “neurodegenerative diseases.” Many of these diseases are common and well-known, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. However, some are very rare, genetic disorders that are the consequence of a defective gene. In all these diseases, a mutant protein that misfolds causes the degeneration and death of neurons. One effective therapeutic strategy is to prevent the rogue protein from ever being made.
Google's Calico Strikes Deal to Advance Treatments for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Calico, the long-quiet Google-backed venture focused on diseases associated with aging, is starting to make some noise. On Thursday, the life sciences company announced a partnership with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and 2M Cos. aimed at developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and ALS.
Lost for Words
A disease called primary progressive aphasia gradually robs people of their language skills while leaving their minds intact.
Neurostress: How Stress May Fuel Neurodegenerative Diseases
While scientists have already catalogued the effect of our surroundings and environment on psychological conditions – including depression and anxiety disorders – new studies suggest that stress may also figure into the complex equation that determines if someone will develop a neurodegenerative disease or not. Because stress can be mitigated through lifestyle changes, people may finally gain some control over these devastating, and feared, illnesses.
The Molecular Clock and Neurodegenerative Disease: A Stressful Time
The symptoms of neurodegeneration can include loss of motor control, cognitive decline, and mood changes, depending on the affected area of the nervous system. One of the early indicators that the circadian system is impacted by neurodegenerative disease was the observation that some patients have aggravated symptomology during the early evening hours, which is known as Sundown Syndrome.
U.S. Burden of Neurodegenerative Disease
Neurodegenerative disease arises when nerve cells in the brain or other parts of the nervous system lose function and eventually die. Currently available treatments may relieve some of the associated symptoms, but there are no known cures.
The neural economics of brain aging
Despite remarkable advances, research into neurodegeneration and Alzheimer Disease (AD) has nonetheless been dominated by inconsistent and conflicting theory. Basic questions regarding how and why the brain changes over time remain unanswered.
Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research
The mission of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) is to promote and conduct multidisciplinary clinical and basic research to increase the understanding of the causes and mechanisms leading to brain dysfunction and degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Motor neuron disease (MND), and related disorders that occur increasingly with advancing age.
Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease
The University of Florida's Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, known as the CTRND, is a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary research center focused on the discovery, development and evaluation of future treatments and diagnostics for degenerative central nervous system conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson's disease and stroke.
Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center
Established in 2001, the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center is a pioneering biomedical research group focused on ending suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. By drawing on the intellectual strength and proven capability of the Harvard medical community and colleagues throughout the world, the NeuroDiscovery Center has developed a unique approach to understanding and treating these devastating diseases.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the most common neurodegenerative diseases.

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