Protein folding breakthrough to help Alzheimer's patients?RSS Feed

Research into protein folding could pave the way to new treatments for people suffering the brain injury seen in many debilitating diseases.

It is believed that when vital proteins are misfolded in humans, debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease occur.

However, scientists have not been able to witness the folding of some of the most crucial proteins as the process takes place inside tiny molecular chambers.

Researchers at Stanford University have now glimpsed the folding process in a study which could lead to new treatments for such conditions.

Study leader Judith Frydman said: "The mechanism of folding we saw in the chaperonin is very different from what we expected and from what has been seen in bacteria.

"It was really surprising, and we are still amazed that it worked."

This comes after scientists at the University of Edinburgh discovered an essential protein hoped to further the understanding of the brain injury seen in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and dementia.

The Nfasc186 protein sustains nerve fibres essential for the transmission of messages in the brain and could hold the key to a better understanding of neurodegenerative disease.

News from Serious Law, specialist acquired brain injury solicitors

Posted by Matthew Dixon
 

Purple Heart to go to US troops with brain injury?

16 March 2011

US troops who suffer brain injury in combat could soon be eligible for the Purple Heart, according to a report.Currently, the Purple Heart honours those wounded or killed in war, but military authorities...

Read More...

Rise in minor league hockey brain injury 'due to bodychecking'

16 March 2011

Brain injury has seen a sharp rise in minor ice hockey players in Canada since the bodychecking rules were relaxed for nine and ten year olds, a study has shown.Minor league hockey players were found to...

Read More...

RVO patients 'at higher risk of stroke'

15 March 2011

Individuals with a condition known as retinal vein occlusion (RVO) have a higher risk of suffering the brain injury seen in stroke, research has shown.A study published in journal Archives of Ophthalmology...

Read More...