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Wednesday 19 May 2021 - New research published today sheds important light on how the production of a key protein in the brain is controlled, which could pave the way for new treatments for a wide range of neurological conditions.
In a study part-funded by Parkinson s UK, researchers investigated a section of genetic material known as antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), which helps fine-tune the production of the protein tau inside brain cells. This precision in tau regulation is crucial for smooth functioning of the nerve cells.
Understanding the mechanism which helps regulate tau production could be the key to developing better treatments for conditions including Parkinson s, Alzheimer s, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy.
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A pioneering new study led by UCL scientists has revealed, for the first time, a layer of genetic material involved in controlling the production of tau; a protein which plays a critical role in serious degenerative conditions, such as Parkinson s and Alzheimer s disease.
The international research, conducted in mice and cells, also revealed this material is part of a larger family of non-coding genes which control and regulate other similar brain proteins, such as beta-amyloid associated with Alzheimer s and alpha-synuclein implicated in Parkinson s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Researchers say the breakthrough findings, published in
Nature, shed an important new light on how proteins linked to neurological conditions are produced and controlled, and could pave the way for new treatments for a wide range of dementia related diseases.
Study may lead to new treatments for a wide range of neurological conditions news-medical.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news-medical.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Apr 26 2021 Read 13 Times
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have been awarded £1.2 million from Parkinson’s UK to continue with development of a drug that protects dopamine-producing brain cells in efforts to halt the degenerative disease.
Dopamine is a chemical which allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that help to coordinate movement. To do this effectively, the dopamine-producing brain cells need to be constantly active and they rely on mitochondria to function properly.
Scientists from the University’s Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) led by Dr Heather Mortiboys, have been working with experts from Parkinson’s UK to develop molecules that can boost the function of the brain’s energy-producing mitochondria.
Developing game-changing test to diagnose Parkinson s ANI | Updated: Mar 14, 2021 23:43 IST
Washington [US], March 14 (ANI): A team of scientists at The University of Manchester discovered in recent research that it is possible to identify Parkinson s based on compounds found on the surface of the skin.
The findings offer hope that a pioneering new test could be developed to diagnose the degenerative condition through a simple and painless skin swab.
Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a technique that works by analysing compounds found in sebum - the oily substance that coats and protects the skin - and identifying changes in people with Parkinson s Disease. Sebum is rich in lipid-like molecules and is one of the lesser-studied biological fluids in the diagnosis of the condition. People with Parkinson s may produce more sebum than normal - a condition known as seborrhoea.