Paracor

Photo of Hot Leaf Juice

Photo: Panafotkas / flickr / cc by-sa

“DS” refers to down syndrome
- DS is a genetic disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, and intellectual disability.
New research found that consuming green tea, leads to an improvement in mental abilities of persons with DS.
“EGCG” refers to epigallocatechin- 3 gallate, a compound found in green tea.
ECGC is found to increase, in persons with DS, cognitive functions such as:
- Memory training
- Executive functions
- Language abilities
- Attention capabilities
The study was done over a period of 12 months, consisting of adults with DS, using a double blind, placebo-controlled, single centre trial. (TESDAD)
Results of study showed that cognitive functions of persons treated with EGCG has better performances than those with placebos.
This is indicative of the benefits and functionality of EGCG.
The potential of this finding includes neurological disabilities including but not limited to:
- Alzheimer’s disease
Read more, at The Lancet.

Posted 10 years ago

Photo of a decorative shield and the detail on it Photo: Thomas Quine / flickr / cc by

“NMNAT2” refers to nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferase 2, a neuronal protective factor.
New Study realized that NMNAT 2 shows positive correlation to cognitive function, and negative correlation with degenerative factor.
This is indicative of huge potential for persons with neurodegenerative diseases such as, but not limited to:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
Proteinopathies is a condition caused by aggregates of proteins, whereby proteins misfold, causing clumps in the brain.
NMNAT2 is categorized as a “chaperone” enzyme, allowing for the influx of nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD), strengthening neuronal bodies.
The chaperone capability of NMNAT2 reduces protein stress caused during proteinoapathies, while the enzymatic abilities provides a protection against excitotoxicity, a process by which neurons are damaged.
Read more, at PLOS Biology.

Posted 10 years ago

“AD” refers to Alzheimer’s disease.
AD is a neurodegenerative disorder, common with the aging person.
New research reveals novel way of understanding iron abundance within the grey matter of the brain, and the prevalence of AD.
Iron deposit is a measure of iron homeostasis, or equilibrium which is evidence of inflammation responses to neurodegeneration.
LA-ICP-MS refers to laser ablation- inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry imaging, a highly sensitive method used to break apart and analyze metals.
Researchers, through the use of LA-ICP-MS were able to analyze iron and phosphorous deposit in the gray matter between a live, and a deceased brain
The study found a positive correlation between iron deposits and myelin integrity loss, indicative of neuronal cell-breakdown.
Read more, at NeuroImage.

Posted 10 years ago

Image of a cooler holding brains Photo: Joe Stump / flickr/ cc- by

“AD” refers to Alzheimer’s disease.
AD is a neurodegenerative disorder causing decreased function in memory, thinking and old age.
AD is commonly characterized through hippocampal atrophy, or degeneration of brain tissue in the hippocampal region.
Recent study has identified new anatomical markers for AD, such as cotical thickness, and grey matter density.
Cortical thickness refers to the overall thickness of the cortex, or brain. Grey matter is the general component of the central nervous system.
Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI), scientists were able to identify more key markers to characterize AD.
These 6 markers include:
- Cortical thickness
- Cortical area
- Cortical curvature
- Grey matter density
- Subcortical volumes
- Hippocampal shape
These markers allow for an enhanced classification and distinction of AD diagnosis.
Find out more, in Human Brain Mapping.

Posted 10 years ago

Age rings on a tree stump

Photo: Garry Knight /Flickr/ cc by

“NR” means Nicotinamide riboside.
“NAD +” means nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a derivative of niacin (Vitamin B3).
NR, a precursor of NAD +, is integral to cellular respiration.
“MuSC” means modulated muscle stem cells
Mitochondria is the power generator of a cell.
Comparing mitochondrial function between aged mice-stem cells indicate that replenishing NR presence in cells improves MuSC in aged mice.
NR decreases muscle senescence through regulation of mitochondrial activity.
Regulation of cellular neural aging and melanocyte stem cells via NR shows increased lifespan in aged mice.
Cellular neural aging reversal could mean potential for advancing technology and studies combatting age related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Dementia.
Find out more, at AAAS Science.

Posted 10 years ago

Photo: Meliesthebunny / flickr / cc by-nc

Tau stands for 'Tau Protein'
AD stands for 'Alzheimer’s disease'
- A progressive, degenerative disorder
PET stands for 'Positron Emission Tomography'
Study, used PET scans to track AD progressive stages;
- Detecting cellular-level changes in organs/tissue
Researchers, noted tau buildup in medial temporal lobe, suggesting:
- Episodic memory declines
- In older age groups
Involving 53 adults, broken down into the following groups:
- 5 adults, aged 20-26 (control)
- 48 adults, aged 53-90 (with probable AD dementia)
Previously, definitive diagnosis only on autopsy, using Braak Stages
Application: PET tau imaging, help develop AD therapeutic approaches
Published in the journal Neuron

Posted 10 years ago

Photo: Specious Reasons / flickr / cc by-nc

C. elegans stands for 'Caenorhabditis Elegans'
- A roundworm, commonly used in research
Researchers developed device to isolate C. elegans
- Housing 32 individual compartments, the device is 2cm by 2cm
Significance of this research tool is it enables:
- Observing protein cluster formation, associated with:
  - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
    - A progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease
  - Alzheimer's disease
    - A progressive, degenerative disorder
  - Parkinson's disease
    - A chronic and progressive movement disorder
  - Other neurodegenerative diseases
- Testing the effects of certain drugs
- Roundworm, immobilization using a temp-sensitive solution
Published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration

Posted 10 years ago