A team of Canadian and American researchers has reached a step closer to developing effective treatments to prevent the brain from diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by identifying a gene that controls the normal and pathological aging of neurons in the central nervous system.
The team - comprising scientists from the Universite de Montreal, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - have revealed that the Bmi1 gene was identified while they were carrying out experiments on mice.
Alzheimer’s disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, Types, Prevention, Prognosis & Treatment
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
They further said that no significant study, focused on the basic molecular mechanisms that control neuronal aging, had been conducted to date.
Lead researcher Gilbert Bernier, of the Universite de Montreal and Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, said that the research team had identified a mutation in mice that dramatically accelerates the process of aging in the brain and the eye.
Parkinson’s Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are correctable to an extent.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are correctable to an extent.
"Overall, we have now established that the Bmi1 gene is a direct regulator of cell aging in brain and retinal neurons of mammals through its action on the defense mechanisms against free radicals," said Dr. Bernier.
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Parkinson's Disease
Slide animation on Parkinson disease. It is a progressive movement disorder due to degeneration of nerve cells of the substantia nigra of the brain. The symptoms get worse with time but drugs or surgery can control them. PD cannot be cured.
Slide animation on Parkinson disease. It is a progressive movement disorder due to degeneration of nerve cells of the substantia nigra of the brain. The symptoms get worse with time but drugs or surgery can control them. PD cannot be cured.
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Parkinson's Disease - Surgical Treatment
Slide animation on surgery for Parkinson disease. Surgery is only indicated where drugs fail to control the symptoms of this progressive movement disorder. Surgery cannot cure the disease.
Slide animation on surgery for Parkinson disease. Surgery is only indicated where drugs fail to control the symptoms of this progressive movement disorder. Surgery cannot cure the disease.
