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

Mind-Altering Cat Parasite Just Got Linked to a Whole Lot of Neurological Disorders

New research suggests that a cat parasite could alter and amplify a range of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, and also cancer.

Saskatchewan principal to walk across province for Huntington's Disease awareness

Greg Shwaga’s walk to raise awareness and support for #research into Huntington’s Disease will take him across Saskatchewan from the Alberta border near Macklin all the way to the Manitoba border near the Lake of the Prairies.

Voiceitt App

Voiceitt is the only assistive communications tool that allows people with speech disabilities associated with childhood conditions like cerebral palsy and autism or degenerative diseases like ALS or Parkinson’s to communicate using their own voices. 

http://www.talkitt.com/

A Shield for Your Brain: New Enzyme Protects Against Neurodegeneration

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.

Real Time Observation of Neurodegenerative Diseases

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