News tagged with neurodegenerative disorder

Brain development is guided by 'junk' DNA that isn't really junk

(Medical Xpress)—Specific DNA once dismissed as junk plays an important role in brain development and might be involved in several devastating neurological diseases, UC San Francisco scientists have found.

Genetics created Apr 15, 2013 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (14) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Biologists find potential drug that speeds cellular recycling

A University of Michigan cell biologist and his colleagues have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome.

Medical research created Mar 13, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease, study finds

The feeling of hunger itself may protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to study published today in the journal PLOS ONE. Interestingly, the results of this study in mice suggest that mild hunger ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia created Apr 03, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Study unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's disease

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shed light on one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer's process and how ...

Neuroscience created Apr 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Alzheimer's neurons induced from pluripotent stem cells

Led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, scientists have, for the first time, created stem cell-derived, in vitro models of sporadic and hereditary Alzheimer's disease ...

Neuroscience created Jan 25, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Neuro researchers sharpen our understanding of memories

Scientists now have a better understanding of how precise memories are formed thanks to research led by Prof. Jean-Claude Lacaille of the University of Montreal's Department of Physiology. "In terms of human applications, ...

Neuroscience created May 01, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists develop promising therapy for Huntington's disease

(Medical Xpress)—There's new hope in the fight against Huntington's disease. A group of researchers that includes scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley ...

Neuroscience created Nov 01, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Molecular knock-out alleviates Alzheimer's symptoms in mice

Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) have identified an enzyme as a possible target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The protein ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia created Nov 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Induction of adult cortical neurogenesis by an antidepressant

The production of new neurons in the adult normal cortex in response to the antidepressant, fluoxetine, is reported in a study published online this week in Neuropsychopharmacology.

Neuroscience created Jan 04, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

International consortium builds 'Google Map' of human metabolism

Building on earlier pioneering work by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, an international consortium of university researchers has produced the most comprehensive virtual reconstruction ...

Medical research created Mar 03, 2013 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (5) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Inflammatory mediator enhances plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive cognitive impairment and memory loss. Now, a new study published by Cell Press in the September 8 issue of the journal Neuron identi ...

Neuroscience created Sep 07, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists identify brain circuitry associated with addictive, depressive behaviors

(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the UCSF-affiliated Gladstone Institutes have determined how specific circuitry in the brain controls not only body movement, but also motivation and learning, providing new insight into ...

Neuroscience created Apr 30, 2012 | popularity 3.4 / 5 (5) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Scientists find link between master gene and neurodegenerative disorders

Garbage comes in all shapes and sizes. Cells, the body's functional units of life, also produce 'garbage' - debris and dysfunctional elements the body must get rid of. Failure to dispose of this garbage could ...

Genetics created Jun 24, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Mapping genes: Study finds new risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases

Using a new and powerful approach to understand the origins of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida are building the case that these diseases are primarily caused ...

Genetics created Jun 07, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Possible role for Huntington's gene discovered

About 20 years ago, scientists discovered the gene that causes Huntington's disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects about 30,000 Americans. The mutant form of the gene has many extra DNA ...

Genetics created Jan 16, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative disease (Greek νέυρο-, néuro-, "nerval" and Latin dēgenerāre, "to decline" or "to worsen") is a condition in which cells of the brain and spinal cord are lost. The brain and spinal cord are composed of neurons that do different functions such as controlling movements, processing sensory information, and making decisions. Cells of the brain and spinal cord are not readily regenerated en masse, so excessive damage can be devastating. Neurodegenerative diseases result from deterioration of neurons or their myelin sheath which over time will lead to dysfunction and disabilities resulting from this.

Some sources limit the term "degenerative" to conditions primarily affecting gray matter that are not associated with a obvious inciting event.

For more information about Neurodegenerative disease, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.