A very special mice with windows in the skull allows observing 'live' the development of Alzheimer's disease. They breached the head that left his brain exposed. Then, the portion of bone that had been removed was replaced by a crystal. Scientists may
'lean' continuously to changes taking place in these mice that had been previously genetically engineered to develop symptoms of the neurodegenerative disorder. For it used a system called focal multiphoton microscopy, which presents quite thoroughly without damaging living tissue.
This experiment revealed some surprising results: the lesions characteristic of Alzheimer's disease not formed, at least in mice, for long periods of time. Within 24 hours was enough to see significant changes in the brain.
The most characteristic symptoms of the disease are memory loss and behavioral disturbances in the earliest stages. In advanced stages there is a deterioration severe cognitive and dementia.
diagnosis in humans is based on clinical criteria, as well as neuronal damage observations provided by neuroimaging. But the ultimate finding can be obtained only with an autopsy. So while the findings in mice are not directly comparable, provide important 'tracks' on how to produce disease.
In postmortem studies of brains of people who had been diagnosed with this disease have been observed two fundamental hallmarks: the presence of deposits or plaques of a protein called beta-amyloid and the existence of so-called neurofibrillary tangles. Traditionally
was thought that beta-amyloid plaques formed in gradually over a long period of time. However, new research on mice shows that these deposits can be generated overnight. In addition, a few days and you can see significant changes in the tissue closest to such accumulations.
The speed of evolution of lesions provides new evidence on an issue that has recently been the subject of intense debate. "The plates of beta-amyloid is the cause or merely a symptom of the disease? According to the results of the study led by Bradley Hyman, Alzheimer Unit Massachusetts General Hospital (USA), and published recently in the journal Nature 'if the protein deposits formed before other neurological changes occur crucial in the development of pathology, it is easy to see that they actually have a decisive causal role.
In a commentary accompanying the study, Eliezer Masliah of the University of California (USA) notes that these findings will be validated through other animal models of disease. In any case, highlights the main achievements: "Using an innovative technique to study the lesions, the authors have opened a new avenue in the neuropathology that may extend to research the development of other injuries (Such as neurofibrillary tangles). It can also be used to assess the "synaptic activity [connections between neurons] and treatment response in living tissue.
" The amyloid plaques are formed in hours and are toxic immediately, at least in transgenic mice, "explains José Manuel MartÃnez Lage, Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Navarra." These data, if they occur also in human Alzheimer's disease have important implications in finding treatments healing of this disease, "he added. Specifically, it is necessary to find" compounds that block the formation of plaques in phases very early. "
'lean' continuously to changes taking place in these mice that had been previously genetically engineered to develop symptoms of the neurodegenerative disorder. For it used a system called focal multiphoton microscopy, which presents quite thoroughly without damaging living tissue.
This experiment revealed some surprising results: the lesions characteristic of Alzheimer's disease not formed, at least in mice, for long periods of time. Within 24 hours was enough to see significant changes in the brain.
The most characteristic symptoms of the disease are memory loss and behavioral disturbances in the earliest stages. In advanced stages there is a deterioration severe cognitive and dementia.
diagnosis in humans is based on clinical criteria, as well as neuronal damage observations provided by neuroimaging. But the ultimate finding can be obtained only with an autopsy. So while the findings in mice are not directly comparable, provide important 'tracks' on how to produce disease.
In postmortem studies of brains of people who had been diagnosed with this disease have been observed two fundamental hallmarks: the presence of deposits or plaques of a protein called beta-amyloid and the existence of so-called neurofibrillary tangles. Traditionally
was thought that beta-amyloid plaques formed in gradually over a long period of time. However, new research on mice shows that these deposits can be generated overnight. In addition, a few days and you can see significant changes in the tissue closest to such accumulations.
The speed of evolution of lesions provides new evidence on an issue that has recently been the subject of intense debate. "The plates of beta-amyloid is the cause or merely a symptom of the disease? According to the results of the study led by Bradley Hyman, Alzheimer Unit Massachusetts General Hospital (USA), and published recently in the journal Nature 'if the protein deposits formed before other neurological changes occur crucial in the development of pathology, it is easy to see that they actually have a decisive causal role.
In a commentary accompanying the study, Eliezer Masliah of the University of California (USA) notes that these findings will be validated through other animal models of disease. In any case, highlights the main achievements: "Using an innovative technique to study the lesions, the authors have opened a new avenue in the neuropathology that may extend to research the development of other injuries (Such as neurofibrillary tangles). It can also be used to assess the "synaptic activity [connections between neurons] and treatment response in living tissue.
" The amyloid plaques are formed in hours and are toxic immediately, at least in transgenic mice, "explains José Manuel MartÃnez Lage, Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Navarra." These data, if they occur also in human Alzheimer's disease have important implications in finding treatments healing of this disease, "he added. Specifically, it is necessary to find" compounds that block the formation of plaques in phases very early. "
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