A protein in your brain can be your weapon against Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers have found that a protein that regulates white blood cells in the human brain could protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

The results  suggest that this protein, called CD33, could have important implications in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

“Immune cells in the brain, called microglia, play a critical role in Alzheimer’s disease,” explained  co-author of the study.

“They can be harmful or protective. Swaying microglia from a harmful to protective state could be the key to treating the disease,” the author added. Scientists have identified the CD33 protein as a factor that may decrease a person’s likelihood of this disease.

Now, this research has shown that the most common type of CD33 protein plays a crucial role in modulating the function of microglia. “The fact that CD33 is found on microglia suggests that immune cells can protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease under the right circumstances,” said the  first author of the study.

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 44 million people around the world. “These findings set the stage for future testing of a causal relationship between CD33 and Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as testing therapeutic strategies to sway microglia from harmful to protecting against the disease – by targeting CD33,” said the researcher.

“Microglia have the potential to ‘clean up’ the neurodegenerative plaques, through a process called phagocytosis — so a therapy to harness this ability to slow down or reverse this mental health disorder can be envisioned,” he said.


this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

Immune cells rewire, repair brain while we sleep

Researchers have found that immune cells called microglia, which play an important role in reorganising the connections between nerve cells, fighting infections, and repairing damage, are also primarily active while we sleep.

Microglia serve as the brain’s first responders, patrolling the brain and spinal cord and springing into action to stamp out infections or gobble up debris from dead cell tissue.

“This research shows that the signals in our brain that modulate the sleep and awake state also act as a switch that turns the immune system off and on,” said study lead author Ania Majewska, Professor at University of Rochester in the US.

In previous studies, Majewska’s lab has shown how microglia interact with synapses, the juncture where the axons of one neuron connects and communicates with its neighbours.

The microglia help maintain the health and function of the synapses and prune connections between nerve cells when they are no longer necessary for brain function.

For the findings, researchers conducted the study on mice.

The current study points to the role of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that signals arousal and stress in the central nervous system.

This chemical is present in low levels in the brain while we sleep, but when production ramps up it arouses our nerve cells, causing us to wake up and become alert.

The study showed that norepinephrine also acts on a specific receptor, the beta2 adrenergic receptor, which is expressed at high levels in microglia.

When this chemical is present in the brain, the microglia slip into a sort of hibernation.

The study, which employed an advanced imaging technology that allows researchers to observe activity in the living brain, showed that when mice were exposed to high levels of norepinephrine, the microglia became inactive and were unable to respond to local injuries and pulled back from their role in rewiring brain networks.

“This work suggests that the enhanced remodeling of neural circuits and repair of lesions during sleep may be mediated in part by the ability of microglia to dynamically interact with the brain,” said the study's first author.

“Altogether, this research also shows that microglia are exquisitely sensitive to signals that modulate brain function and that microglial dynamics and functions are modulated by the behavioural state of the animal,” the first author said.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.      https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement      

Common nutrient supplementation may help combat Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have found that Choline, a lifelong dietary regimen has the capacity to prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Researchers looked into whether choline could alleviate the effects of Alzheimer's.

Earlier this year, researchers found transgenerational benefits of AD-like symptoms in mice whose mothers were supplemented with choline. The latest work expands this line of research by exploring the effects of choline administered in adulthood rather than in fetal mice.

Notably, researchers found benefits of lifelong choline supplementation in male mice with AD-like symptoms. The results nicely replicate findings by this group in females, the lead author said.

Intriguingly, the beneficial effects of lifelong choline supplementation reduce the activation of microglia. Microglia are specialised cells that rid the brain of deleterious debris.

They observed reductions in disease-associated microglia, which are present in various neurodegenerative diseases, offer exciting new avenues of research and suggest ways of treating a broad range of disorders, including traumatic brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Choline acts to protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease in at least 2 ways, both of which are explored in the new study. First, choline blocks the production of amyloid-beta plaques. Amyloid-beta plaques are the hallmark pathology observed in Alzheimer's disease.

Secondly, choline supplementation reduces the activation of microglia. Over-activation of microglia causes brain inflammation and can eventually lead to neuronal death, thereby compromising cognitive function. Choline supplementation reduces the activation of microglia, offering further protection from the ravages of AD.

Mechanistically, the reduction in microglia activation are driven by alteration of 2 key receptors, the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine and Sigma-1 receptor.

In the scientific community, it is well understood that Alzheimer's disease causes harm to the brain long before clinical symptoms are made evident. And once these symptoms are identified, it is too late--- the disease has become irreversible. In addition to causing disorientation and memory loss, the disease causes loss of motor control in those who are afflicted.

Prior research concerning Alzheimer's has indicated that there is one factor at play. Rather, a multitude of factors that are believed to contribute to the development of the disease, including genetics, age, and lifestyle. Additionally, studies suggest that diet can have a significant effect on on creasing or lowering the risk of cognitive decline.

Choline can be found in various foods. According to the US department of agriculture (USDA), high levels of choline are found in chicken liver ( 3 oz, 247 mg), eggs ( 1 large egg with yolk- 147 mg), beef grass0fed steak ( 3 oz-  55 mg), wheat germ ( 1 oz toast- 51 mg), milk ( 8 oz- 38 mg) and Brussels sprouts ( 1/2 cup- 32 mg).

All plant and animal cells require choline to maintain their structural integrity. It has long been recognised that choline is particularly important for brain function.

The human body uses choline to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for functioning  memory, muscle control and mood. Choline is also used to build cell membrane and plays a vital role in regulating gene expression. Additionally, a new report in Jan. 2019 found that choline acts as an agonist for Sigma-1 receptors, which are implicated in AD pathogenesis.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement    

Space study seeks treatments for Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis

Scientists are conducting a first-of-its-kind study on the International Space Station (ISS) to find the causes and treatment of major neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. The study will look at what is causing damage to the nervous system that is common in both illnesses and reveal how living in space affects similar cells in healthy astronauts.

"This is the first time anyone is researching the effects of microgravity and spaceflight on such cells," said a researcher.

"These cells are hard to study in a lab because of the way gravity influences them. The cool part is now we can do it in space!" he said.

Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis are neurodegenerative illnesses that damage the brain and central nervous system. The researchers suspect this damage may be the result of a glitch in the body's immune system.

NASA is interested in how spaceflight changes the immune system since some astronauts experience strange effects following missions, including temporary activation of dormant viruses.

To learn more, researchers are focusing on the types of cells in the brain that seem to play key roles in the onset of both diseases.

The first types are neurons and the cells that create them, which go on to form the body's nerve network and allow the brain to monitor and control it.

The second are microglia: immune cells that patrol the brain and try to defend the neurons from threatening invaders.

"The microglia are found in every part of the brain, and it's really starting to look like neurodegenerative illnesses develop because the cells begin behaving improperly or overreacting," said one of the researcher.

"Misbehaving microglia may contribute to killing the neurons," he said.

To find out whether that is the case, the researchers need to study the growth of neurons and microglia from people with the diseases and compare them to healthy people of the same age.

Since these cells are located within the brain, they cannot be extracted safely.

Researchers found another way, harnessing a new stem cell technology called "induced pluripotent stem cells" to make neurons and microglia from the skin cells of patients and healthy people in laboratories.

They launched newly created diseased and healthy cells into space to observe them away from the heavy influence of Earth's gravity.

The cells are now aboard the space station, living inside a CubeLab developed by  a company that develops equipment for microgravity research.

The CubeLab is about the size of a small shoebox. Inside the CubeLab is a camera to watch the experiment as well as a pair of 96-chamber containers holding the cells.

One "well plate" holds the cells of a Parkinson's patient and a healthy person of similar age. The second plate contains the cells of a multiple sclerosis patient and an age-matched healthy donor.

Over the course of 30 days, the researchers can watch remotely to see how the neuron cells organise into balls, called "organoids," and how the microglia cells respond to and infiltrate them.

After a month, the cells will be returned to Earth, where researchers plan to examine their shape and arrangement and test their DNA to see if microgravity and space radiation exposure altered their gene expression.

The results of the study ultimately could help scientists identify new ways to treat Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, researchers said.

Discovering the way nerve cells are affected by microgravity and radiation may lead to improved methods for protecting astronauts in space, particularly on long-duration missions, they said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                    

                                https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

 

Depression over the years changes the human brain

Seems like, depression over the years changes the brain in humans.

According to a research conducted by some scientists, brain alters after years of persistent depression, suggesting the need to change how we think about depression as it progresses.

The study, showed that people with longer periods of untreated depression, lasting more than a decade, had significantly more brain inflammation compared to those who had less than 10 years of untreated depression.

In an earlier study, the team discovered the first definitive evidence of inflammation in the brain in clinical depression.

This study provides the first biological evidence for large brain changes in long-lasting depression, suggesting that it is a different stage of illness that needs different therapeutics - the same perspective taken for early and later stages of Alzheimer's disease, he said.

"Greater inflammation in the brain is a common response with degenerative brain diseases as they progress, such as with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease," said a Dr.

While depression is not considered a degenerative brain disease, the change in inflammation shows that, for those in whom depression persists, it may be progressive and not a static condition.

Yet currently, said the Dr., regardless of how long a person has been ill, the major depressive disorder is mainly treated with the same approach. Some people may have a couple of episodes of depression over a few years.

Others may have persistent episodes over a decade with worsening symptoms, and increasing difficulty going to work or carrying out routine activities.

In the study, brain inflammation was measured using a type of brain imaging called positron emission tomography (PET).

The brain's immune cells, known as microglia, are involved in the brain's normal inflammatory response to trauma or injury, but too much inflammation is associated with other degenerative illnesses as well as depression.

When microglia are activated, they make more translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of inflammation that can be seen using PET imaging.

The study involved 25 people with more than 10 years of depression, 25 with less than 10 years of illness, and 30 people with no depression as a comparison group.

TSPO levels were about 30 percent higher in different brain regions among those with long-lasting untreated depression, compared to those with shorter periods of untreated depression. The group with long-term depression also had higher TSPO levels than those with no depression.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
  FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com 

Depression over the years changes the human brain

 Seems like, depression over the years changes the brain in humans.

According to a research conducted by some doctors, brain alters after years of persistent depression, suggesting the need to change how we think about depression as it progresses.

The study, led by senior author, showed that people with longer periods of untreated depression, lasting more than a decade, had significantly more brain inflammation compared to those who had less than 10 years of untreated depression.

In an earlier study, the team discovered the first definitive evidence of inflammation in the brain in clinical depression.

This study provides the first biological evidence for large brain changes in long-lasting depression, suggesting that it is a different stage of illness that needs different therapeutics - the same perspective taken for early and later stages of Alzheimer's disease, he said.

"Greater inflammation in the brain is a common response with degenerative brain diseases as they progress, such as with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease," said a Dr.

While depression is not considered a degenerative brain disease, the change in inflammation shows that, for those in whom depression persists, it may be progressive and not a static condition.

Yet currently, said the Dr., regardless of how long a person has been ill, the major depressive disorder is mainly treated with the same approach. Some people may have a couple of episodes of depression over a few years.

Others may have persistent episodes over a decade with worsening symptoms, and increasing difficulty going to work or carrying out routine activities.

In the study, brain inflammation was measured using a type of brain imaging called positron emission tomography (PET).

The brain's immune cells, known as microglia, are involved in the brain's normal inflammatory response to trauma or injury, but too much inflammation is associated with other degenerative illnesses as well as depression.

When microglia are activated, they make more translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of inflammation that can be seen using PET imaging.

The study involved 25 people with more than 10 years of depression, 25 with less than 10 years of illness, and 30 people with no depression as a comparison group.

TSPO levels were about 30 percent higher in different brain regions among those with long-lasting untreated depression, compared to those with shorter periods of untreated depression. The group with long-term depression also had higher TSPO levels than those with no depression.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                    

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM