Summary: Researchers analyzed decades of data to estimate how many people in the United States have Down syndrome and examined differences across racial and ethnic groups. Source: Mass General. First study to trace changes across decades and detail racial and ethnic groups A new national study provides the first comprehensive estimates of the number of … Read more

Summary: An international research team has identified four distinct subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease based on patterns of tau protein accumulation. The discovery could enable more personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for people with this neurodegenerative disorder. Source: Lund University Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the abnormal accumulation and spread of tau protein across the cerebral … Read more

Summary: New research shows that lacking the muscle protein α-actinin-3 improves human cold tolerance by increasing sustained muscle tone. An estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide carry the ACTN3 loss-of-function variant that causes this deficiency. Source: Cell Press A common genetic variant that affects skeletal muscle physiology may have helped early humans cope with colder climates … Read more

Summary: Researchers have proposed a new research framework that defines Alzheimer’s disease by measurable brain changes rather than by symptoms. New Research Framework Defines Alzheimer’s Disease Biologically “NIA‑AA Research Framework: Towards a Biological Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease” was published in the April 2018 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Lead … Read more

Summary: Researchers have detected abnormal prion protein linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the skin of nearly two dozen people who died from the condition. The results prompt questions about whether prion transmission could occur via skin-related medical procedures and whether a skin-based test could help diagnose prion diseases. Source: NIH/NIAID. Scientists at the U.S. … Read more

Summary: Theta oscillations help the brain remember the locations a person is attempting to reach during navigation. Source: RUB Researchers report new insights into how specific brain rhythms support navigation, with potential future applications for patients with neurodegenerative disorders. The brain appears to implement an internal navigation system that functions much like a biological GPS, … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified the enzyme ten-eleven-translocation 1 (TET1) as a critical regulator of myelin repair in the adult brain. The discovery sheds light on age-related decline in remyelination and could influence future approaches to treating neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Source: CUNY New evidence indicates that the adult brain retains … Read more

Summary: Not only the cerebral cortex but the entire auditory pathway encodes sounds according to prior expectations. Source: TU Dresden Our senses are the primary window to the world, yet they do not simply relay objective reality. Over the past two decades, neuroscience has shown that perception is shaped by the brain’s predictions: cortical circuits … Read more

High Aluminum Co-locates with Amyloid-β in Familial Alzheimer’s Brain Tissue, Study Finds Summary: Researchers report a strong association between elevated aluminum levels in brain tissue and the presence and location of amyloid-β in post-mortem samples from people with familial Alzheimer’s disease, reinforcing evidence that aluminum exposure may play a role in the disease. Study Overview … Read more

Summary: New research finds that gestational exposure to ultrafine particulate (UFP) air pollution alters placental gene expression and is linked to reduced fetal and placental growth, particularly at lower exposure levels. Source: Texas A&M Air pollution is a major global health threat, contributing to millions of deaths annually and accounting for an estimated 20 percent … Read more