The Brain: Alzheimer's and dementia news and discussions

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03- ... sease.html

Unlocking how to use mRNA to target Alzheimer's disease

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Smartphone app may pave way to treatments for frontotemporal dementia in under-60s

by University of California, San Francisco
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... poral.html

A smartphone app could enable greater participation in clinical trials for people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a devastating neurological disorder that often manifests in midlife.

Research into the condition has been hampered by problems with early diagnosis and difficulty tracking how people are responding to treatments that are only likely to be effective at the early stages of disease.

To address this, a research team led by UC San Francisco deployed cognitive tests through a mobile app and found it could detect early signs of FTD in people who were genetically predisposed to get the disease but had not yet developed symptoms. These tests were at least as sensitive as neuropsychological evaluations done in the clinic.

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Diabetes drug shows promise against Parkinson's in clinical study
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... nical.html
by By Issam Ahmed and Lucie Aubourg

People play table tennis at the Ping Pong Parkinson initiative in Berlin on April 11, 2023, World Parkinson's Day -- the devastating disorder affects 10 million people worldwide.

A drug used to treat diabetes slowed the progression of motor issues associated with Parkinson's disease, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine said Wednesday.

Parkinson's is a devastating nervous system disorder affecting 10 million people worldwide, with no current cure. Symptoms include rhythmic shaking known as tremors, slowed movement, impaired speech and problems balancing, which get worse over time.

Researchers have been interested in exploring a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists—which mimic a gut hormone and are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity—for their potential to protect neurons.

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... mouse.html

Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease shows promise in mouse study

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Human neuron model paves the way for new Alzheimer's therapies
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... apies.html
by Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medicine scientists have developed an innovative human neuron model that robustly simulates the spread of tau protein aggregates in the brain—a process that drives cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. This new model has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets that could potentially block tau spread.

The preclinical study, published April 5 in Cell, is a significant advancement in Alzheimer's disease research

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The study of the human brain can pose ethical problems not associated with the study of other organs of the body. At least, that is the case with the use of brain organoids.

Are Lab-grown Brain Tissues Ethical?
April 8, 2024

Introduction:

(Eurekalert) Brain organoids, though often referred to as “mini brains,” are not truly human brains. But the concerns over these lab-grown brain tissues, especially when they are developed from human fetal tissues, can be very human indeed.

Researchers from the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hiroshima University offer valuable insights into the complexities inherent in brain organoid research, making significant contributions to the ongoing discourse surrounding this innovative biotechnology and paving the way for informed decision-making and legal and ethical stewardship in the pursuit of scientific advancement.
Their paper was published on March 4 in EMBO Reports.

Brain organoids are three-dimensional human brain tissues derived from stem cells, which are capable of developing into many different cell types. They replicate the complexity of the human brain in a laboratory setting, allowing researchers to study brain development and diseases in the hopes of acquiring vital insights and making innovative medical advancements.

Read more here: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1040355

From the EMBO Reports article:

FeBOs (foetal brain organoids) provide an accurate representation of foetal neural tissues at specific developmental stages and may actually help to reduce the use of foetal neural tissue in scientific research. However, initial and comparative studies still require growing BOs from foetal tissue. Consequently, research involving FeBOs finds itself at complex ethical crossroads, intertwining the moral quandaries associated with both BO research and the use of foetal tissues predominantly sourced through elective abortions from anonymous donors (Brumbaugh et al, 2023).

The ethical challenges associated with BO research (Sawai et al, 2022) apply to FeBO research as well. Dialogues among leading research organisations, including the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), have already addressed these challenges (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26078/ ; https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/ ). Central concerns are the potential that lab-grown human BOs might achieve consciousness and the ethical implications of transplanting them into animal models (de Jongh et al, 2022). The discourse also encompasses issues related to consent (Kataoka et al, 2024), commercialisation (Boers et al, 2016), integration with computational technologies (Kagan et al, 2023), and legal ramifications (Kataoka et al, 2023b). In addition, the public perception of BOs, which is often shaped by media representations, frequently diverges from scientific reality (Presley et al, 2022).
…
The Hendriks et al study generated FeBOs from foetal brain tissue at gestational weeks 12–15, which underwent further maturation under modified culture conditions. This situation approaches the proposed ethical boundary in BO research, at the equivalence of the 20-week human brain (Koplin and Savulescu, 2019). Herein lies a dilemma: the increasing complexity of organoid development might inadvertently move them within broader bioethical debates.

This issue also extends to the domain of animal transplantation and integration with computational technology. Recent findings indicate that BOs, when transplanted into animals, tend to mature further within the host brain (Revah et al, 2022). However, the ramifications of in vivo maturation, particularly for FeBOs, and their impact on both organoids and host animals remain ambiguous and warrant scrutiny (Kataoka et al, 2023a).

Source: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10. ... 4-00099-5

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The study of the human brain can pose ethical problems not associated with the study of other organs of the body. At least, that is the case with the use of brain organoids.

Are Lab-grown Brain Tissues Ethical?
April 8, 2024

Introduction:

(Eurekalert) Brain organoids, though often referred to as “mini brains,” are not truly human brains. But the concerns over these lab-grown brain tissues, especially when they are developed from human fetal tissues, can be very human indeed.

Researchers from the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hiroshima University offer valuable insights into the complexities inherent in brain organoid research, making significant contributions to the ongoing discourse surrounding this innovative biotechnology and paving the way for informed decision-making and legal and ethical stewardship in the pursuit of scientific advancement.
Their paper was published on March 4 in EMBO Reports.

Brain organoids are three-dimensional human brain tissues derived from stem cells, which are capable of developing into many different cell types. They replicate the complexity of the human brain in a laboratory setting, allowing researchers to study brain development and diseases in the hopes of acquiring vital insights and making innovative medical advancements.

Read more here: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1040355

From the EMBO Reports article:

FeBOs (foetal brain organoids) provide an accurate representation of foetal neural tissues at specific developmental stages and may actually help to reduce the use of foetal neural tissue in scientific research. However, initial and comparative studies still require growing BOs from foetal tissue. Consequently, research involving FeBOs finds itself at complex ethical crossroads, intertwining the moral quandaries associated with both BO research and the use of foetal tissues predominantly sourced through elective abortions from anonymous donors (Brumbaugh et al, 2023).

The ethical challenges associated with BO research (Sawai et al, 2022) apply to FeBO research as well. Dialogues among leading research organisations, including the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), have already addressed these challenges (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26078/ ; https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/ ). Central concerns are the potential that lab-grown human BOs might achieve consciousness and the ethical implications of transplanting them into animal models (de Jongh et al, 2022). The discourse also encompasses issues related to consent (Kataoka et al, 2024), commercialisation (Boers et al, 2016), integration with computational technologies (Kagan et al, 2023), and legal ramifications (Kataoka et al, 2023b). In addition, the public perception of BOs, which is often shaped by media representations, frequently diverges from scientific reality (Presley et al, 2022).
…
The Hendriks et al study generated FeBOs from foetal brain tissue at gestational weeks 12–15, which underwent further maturation under modified culture conditions. This situation approaches the proposed ethical boundary in BO research, at the equivalence of the 20-week human brain (Koplin and Savulescu, 2019). Herein lies a dilemma: the increasing complexity of organoid development might inadvertently move them within broader bioethical debates.

This issue also extends to the domain of animal transplantation and integration with computational technology. Recent findings indicate that BOs, when transplanted into animals, tend to mature further within the host brain (Revah et al, 2022). However, the ramifications of in vivo maturation, particularly for FeBOs, and their impact on both organoids and host animals remain ambiguous and warrant scrutiny (Kataoka et al, 2023a).

Source: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10. ... 4-00099-5

The fucking religious are going to literally ban most of medical science based on this shit. Be careful.

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Researchers set new standards for nanoparticles, helping patients with MS, ALS, Parkinson's disease
https://phys.org/news/2024-04-standards ... s-als.html
by Dalin Clark, Michigan State University

Is it possible for nanoparticles to go through the digestive system and deliver medicine directly to the brain tissue? Researchers from Michigan State University say yes, and their latest findings are expected to benefit patients with neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis, or MS; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS; and Parkinson's disease, or PD.

"Our work is focused on identifying the biological identity of nanoparticles, including the type of proteins that come to their surfaces," said Morteza Mahmoudi, an associate professor in the Department of Radiology in the MSU colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine and Precision Health. "This is important because the type of proteins that come to the surface provide a unique pattern that can give the green light to pass the blood brain barrier and work directly in the brain tissues."

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Analyzing the progression in retinal thickness could predict cognitive progression in Parkinson's patients
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... ients.html
by University of the Basque Country

Although there are still some aspects pending confirmation for its use in the clinical setting, and its resolution needs to be improved slightly, a study by the UPV/EHU and Biobizkaia has shown that a method routinely used to carry out ophthalmological tests can also be used to monitor the neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson's patients. In the course of the research, it was found that the neurodegeneration of the retina probably precedes cognitive impairment.

When Parkinson's or another neurodegenerative disease is diagnosed, patients always ask, "And now what? What will happen? What can be expected from the disease?" For neurologists, however, it is not possible to answer these questions precisely, as "the evolution of patients tends to be very varied: some experience no change over the years, while others end up with dementia or in a wheelchair," explained Ane Murueta-Goyena, researcher in the UPV/EHU's department of Neurosciences.

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Nanomaterial that mimics proteins could be basis for new neurodegenerative disease treatments
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... ative.html
by Will Cushman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A newly developed nanomaterial that mimics the behavior of proteins could be an effective tool for treating Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. The nanomaterial alters the interaction between two key proteins in brain cells—with a potentially powerful therapeutic effect.

The innovative findings, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, were made possible thanks to a collaboration between University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists and nanomaterial engineers at Northwestern University.

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Researchers target neurogenesis in new approach to treat Parkinson's disease
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04- ... sease.html
by Anika Hazra, University of Toronto

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a way to better control the preclinical generation of key neurons depleted in Parkinson's disease, pointing toward a new approach for a disease with no cure and few effective treatments.

The researchers used an antibody to selectively activate a receptor in a molecular signaling pathway to develop dopaminergic neurons. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical to brain health.

Researchers around the world have been working to coax stem cells to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons, to replace those lost in patients living with Parkinson's disease. But efforts have been hindered in part by an inability to target specific receptors and areas of the brain.

"We used synthetic antibodies that we had previously developed to target the Wnt signaling pathway," said Stephane Angers, principal investigator on the study and director of the Donnelly Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

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Study suggests two copies of APOE4 gene behind up to 20% of Alzheimer's cases
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05- ... cases.html
by Bob Yirka , Medical Xpress

A team of neurologists affiliated with multiple institutions in Spain and the U.S. has found evidence that suggests up to 20% of all cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be attributable to double copies of the APOE4 gene.

For their paper published in the journal Nature Medicine, the group studied data from the brains of thousands of deceased AD patients and biomarkers in an additional 10,000 living patients.

Qin Xu, Zherui Liang and Yadong Huan, with the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, has published a News & Views piece in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the team on this new effort.

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Study uncovers protein interactions as a potential path for ALS cure

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05- ... -path.html

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Simple learning test may be used to diagnose autism at just six months of age
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05- ... s-age.html
by Bob Yirka , Medical Xpress

A combined team of psychologists from the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Child Psychopathology Unit, both in Italy, has discovered what might be a marker for autism that could diagnose a child as young as 6 months.

In their study, published in PLOS ONE, the group tested infants believed to be at risk of developing the disorder and compared their results with infants not at risk and then monitored them for two years to see if any of them developed autism.

Autism is believed to be a whole spectrum of social, mental and emotional disorders, with symptoms including mutism, social problems and extreme egocentrism. Prior research has suggested that the earlier a person is diagnosed with the disorder, the more that can be done to alleviate symptoms as they age.

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'Bio-paper' implant: Personalized wireless electrotherapy for Parkinson's
By Paul McClure
May 22, 2024

An innovative biodegradable paper that sticks to the brain’s surface like a Band-Aid and delivers electrical stimulation wirelessly could revolutionize the treatment of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, according to a new study.

Therapies that deliver electrical stimulation to the brain to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have been found to be effective. To deliver this deep brain stimulation (DBS), electrodes are implanted in areas of the brain through small holes drilled in the skull. A pacemaker-like device is also inserted under the skin of the chest to power the electrodes.

https://newatlas.com/medical/bioelectri ... ion-brain/

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Study connects genetic risk for autism to changes observed in the brain
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05- ... brain.html
by University of California, Los Angeles

A study led by UCLA Health has unveiled the most detailed view of the complex biological mechanisms underlying autism, showing the first link between genetic risk of the disorder to observed cellular and genetic activity across different layers of the brain.

The study, titled "Molecular cascades and cell type–specific signatures in ASD revealed by single-cell genomics," is part of the second package of studies from the National Institutes of Health consortium, PsychENCODE. Launched in 2015, the initiative, chaired by UCLA neurogeneticist Dr. Daniel Geschwind, is working to create maps of gene regulation across different regions of the brain and different stages of brain development.

The consortium aims to bridge the gap between studies on the genetic risk for various psychiatric disorders and the potential causal mechanisms at the molecular level.

"This collection of manuscripts from PsychENCODE, both individually and as a package, provides an unprecedented resource for understanding the relationship of disease risk to genetic mechanisms in the brain," Geschwind said.

Geschwind's study on autism, one of nine published in the May 24 issue of Science, builds on decades of his group's research profiling the genes that increase the susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder and defining the convergent molecular changes observed in the brains of individuals with autism. However, what drives these molecular changes and how they relate to genetic susceptibility in this complex condition at the cellular and circuit level are not well understood.

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Breakthrough synapse-regenerating ALS pill moves to phase 2 human trials
By Paul McClure
May 29, 2024

A pioneering once-a-day pill that regenerates nerve cell connections damaged by ALS has been FDA-approved for ongoing clinical trials. The drug is now being given to those with ALS and could be a watershed moment in the treatment of the fatal disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurons, that control voluntary muscle movements like walking, talking, and breathing. As the neurons die and can’t send messages to the muscles, loss of muscle control worsens over time and is eventually fatal.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several drugs that help manage symptoms or slow the disease’s progress, but there’s no current treatment that reverses the progression of ALS. In short, there’s no cure. That’s where Spinogenix, Inc. comes in.

https://newatlas.com/medical/als-regene ... al-trials/

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Researchers plan to retract landmark Alzheimer’s paper containing doctored images

https://www.science.org/content/article ... red-images

This is a big deal.