PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Researchers discover an epigenetic lesion in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's

2014-01-21
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Arantxa Mena
amena@idibell.cat
0034-932-607-282
IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute
Researchers discover an epigenetic lesion in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease can reach epidemic range in the coming decades, by the increasing average age of society.

There are two key issues for Alzheimer's disease: there is currently no effective treatment and it has been described very few associated genetic changes (mutations) which reduces the number of targets for future therapies.

Alzheimer's disease

Pathologically, Alzheimer 's disease is characterized by the accumulation of protein deposits in the brain of patients. These deposits are formed by plates of a protein called amyloid-beta and rolled tangles of tau protein . The root cause of these lesions in most cases is unknown, but specific alterations in regulating genes expression might be involved.

Today , the prestigious international journal in neurology Hippocampus publishes an article led by Manel Esteller, Director of Epigenetics and Cancer Biology , Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge (IDIBEL ) , ICREA researcher and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona,with the collaboration of the Institute of Neuropathology IDIBELL led by Isidre Ferrer, demonstrating for the first time the existence of an epigenetic lesion in the hippocampus of the brain of patients with Alzheimer.

Switches in the hippocampus

" We first started studying 30,000 molecular switches that turn on and off genes in the hippocampal region in the brains of Alzheimer patients in different stages of disease and compared with that of healthy patients of the same age. We note that dusp22 gene switch off (methylated) as the disease advances" explained Manel Esteller, director of the study.

"But more importantly" continues "was the discovery that this gene regulates tau protein. Perhaps therefore the accumulation of tau protein produced in the brain of patients with Alzheimer results from dusp22 epigenetic inactivation " .

According Esteller " the finding is relevant not only to determine the causes of the disease, but also to test potential treatments in the future to act on these epigenetic molecular switches " .



INFORMATION:



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Large-scale HPV self-testing proves effective for screening cervical cancer

2014-01-21
Large-scale HPV self-testing proves effective for screening cervical cancer Self-testing for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus that causes cervical cancer – is as effective at detecting cancer as a conventional smear test (cytology screening) ...

The scientific explanation of why beer overflows

2014-01-21
The scientific explanation of why beer overflows This news release is available in Spanish. Scientists at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid reveal the physical phenomenon that explains beer's rapid transformation from a liquid to a foamy state as the result of an impact. ...

Infectious diseases experts issue guidance on health-care personnel attire

2014-01-21
Infectious diseases experts issue guidance on health-care personnel attire Recommendations to help prevent health-care-associated infections transmitted through clothing New guidance from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) ...

Radiation before surgery more than doubles mesothelioma survival: UHN study

2014-01-21
Radiation before surgery more than doubles mesothelioma survival: UHN study (TORONTO, Canada – January 20, 2014) – Results of clinical research that treated mesothelioma with radiation before surgery show the three-year survival rate more than doubled for ...

Gay-straight alliances in schools reduce suicide risk for all students

2014-01-21
Gay-straight alliances in schools reduce suicide risk for all students Canadian schools with explicit anti-homophobia interventions such as gay-straight alliances (GSAs) may reduce the odds of suicidal thoughts and attempts among both sexual minority ...

Childhood obesity can only be tackled with broad public health interventions

2014-01-21
Childhood obesity can only be tackled with broad public health interventions Public health researchers from the University of Manchester have found single dietary interventions are not effective at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among overweight ...

A 21st century adaptation of the Miller-Urey origin of life experiments

2014-01-21
A 21st century adaptation of the Miller-Urey origin of life experiments A safe approach to investigating how organic molecules could come about from inorganic compounds Today, January 21, JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, published a ...

Peekaboo... I see through!

2014-01-21
Peekaboo... I see through! MIT team develops a new, inexpensive transparent projection screen Picture the Louvre pyramid: the iconic glass pyramid that serves as main entrance and skylight to the landmark museum. The pyramid ...

Turkeys inspire smartphone-capable early warning system for toxins

2014-01-21
Turkeys inspire smartphone-capable early warning system for toxins Berkeley — Some may think of turkeys as good for just lunch meat and holiday meals. But bioengineers at the University of California, Berkeley, saw inspiration in the big birds for a new ...

Virginia Tech researcher develops energy-dense sugar battery

2014-01-21
Virginia Tech researcher develops energy-dense sugar battery 'Sugar is a perfect energy storage compound in nature,' Y.H. Percival Zhang said. 'So it's only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery.' A Virginia Tech ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Pusan National University researchers identify key barriers hindering data-driven smart manufacturing adoption

Inking heterometallic nanosheets: A scalable breakthrough for coating, electronics, and electrocatalyst applications

Adults with autism show similar brain mapping of body parts as typically developing adults

Uncovering behavioral clues to childhood maltreatment

Premenstrual symptoms linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Newly discovered remains of ancient river landscapes control ice flow in East Antarctica

Newly discovered interstellar object 'may be oldest comet ever seen'

Animal-inspired AI robot learns to navigate unfamiliar terrain

Underserved youth less likely to visit emergency department for concussion in Ontario, study finds

‘Molecular shield’ placed in the nose may soon treat common hay fever trigger

Beetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy in response to rising temperature and CO₂

Groundbreaking quantum study puts wave-particle duality to work

Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients

Toxic metals linked to impaired growth in infants in Guatemala

Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death

Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks

Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period

‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths

Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care

Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system

Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement

Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated

The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought

New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly

Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025

NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification

Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success

New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows

Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being

Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon

[Press-News.org] Researchers discover an epigenetic lesion in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's