Today's Top Alzheimer's News
Breakthrough in neuroscience research into autism disease, the impact of early onset Alzheimer's, and NIH challenges innovators to develop ways to track the health status of a single cell in complex tissue over time in the hopes of developing breakthroughs in disease like Alzheimer's (read more).
Must reads, watch, and listen
- An August 21, 2014 The New York Times article reported that Columbia University researchers have found "that brains with autism fail to trim synapses as they develop." According to the article, "The researchers, from Columbia University Medical Center, looked closely at an area of the brain’s temporal lobe involved in social behavior and communication. Analyzing tissue from 20 of the brains, they counted spines — the tiny neuron protrusions that receive signals via synapses — and found more spines in children with autism… Dr. Sulzer’s team also found biomarkers and proteins in the brains with autism that reflected malfunctions in the system of clearing out old and degraded cells, a process called autophagy."
- An August 21, 2014 WXXI News (NPR) Connections with David Dawson radio segment highlighted the impact of early onset Alzheimer's. According to the segment description, "Amy Norton was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 43 years old and it’s changed the life of the family, including daughter Megan Norton who presented an essay for her class about her mom’s condition, titled 'The Continuous Nightmare.'"
- An August 21, 2014 NIH news release announced that NIH "is challenging science innovators to compete for prizes totaling up to $500,000, by developing new ways to track the health status of a single cell in complex tissue over time." According to James Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., director of NIH’s Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), “Advances in cellular analysis promise earlier diagnosis and improved therapies for diseases, from cancer to Alzheimer’s...These prizes will also help to stimulate new businesses and economic growth in our biomedical communities.”
- An August 15, 2014 PBS video segment highlighted an art care program co-founded by one of the founders of ClergyAgainstAlzheimer's.