Stories, Author at Readable Research

Specific inhibition in a type of nervous system cell, called astrocytes, of a mutated protein associated with ALS helps protect motor neurons and muscle function in mice.

The death of motor neurons in ALS results in muscle paralysis and wasting, dramatically impacting quality of life for patients as paralysis progresses. This is because as the motor neurons die they no longer connect to muscles and are unable to convey signals from our brains and spinal cord to the muscles. As patients can no longer move their muscles they start to waste away. To find a treatment that helps preserve motor neurons and keep them connected to muscles would be very beneficial to ALS patients. Astrocytes exist in close proximity to motor neurons. In healthy conditions, astrocytes support the motor neurons in many ways. This support can be reduced in disease, and in the case of ALS, astrocytes containing mutant SOD1 can become actively toxic to motor neurons, contributing to their death.

Loss of an ALS-associated protein in the brain’s immune cells, microglia, leads to reduced connections between neurons, which can lead to neuronal dysfunction.

Synapses are vital as they are the connections that allow different neurons to communicate with each other. The pruning of synapses is partly performed by microglia using a process called phagocytosis, where the microglia “eats” the synapse. Pruning unnecessary synapses is a crucial part of normal development, but excess synaptic pruning can be a sign of disease that leads to neurons not functioning properly. The authors thought this might be something which occurs in ALS and FTD, and specifically wanted to see if C9orf72 had a part to play.

An antibiotic may have potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

This study provides further evidence that Ceftriaxone could be a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s. It aimed to determine whether the drug could have a beneficial effect on the behaviour of mice with early Alzheimer’s, as well as the amount of amyloid beta and inflammation in their brains. It is also important as it is an example of drug repurposing. This is a relatively new approach and aims to use existing drugs for one condition to treat another disease. Because the drug is already approved and is safety tested, it can progress through clinical trials much faster.

Lifestyle factors may help to explain differences between severity of Alzheimer’s symptoms and level of brain abnormalities

This study aims to better understand why some people show less severe Alzheimer’s symptoms despite having high level of abnormalities in brain imaging scans, and whether this is linked to various lifestyle factors. This may provide evidence for the effectiveness of various lifestyle interventions in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer’s.

The role of physical exercise in the development of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for people with certain other risk factors

This study is important as it confirms the association between ALS and frequent strenuous exercise.

How has the Covid-19 Pandemic Impacted People with Parkinson’s?

Researchers in India examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on those living with Parkinson’s disease, particularly in terms of the impact of national lockdowns and stress.

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