The scent of trouble. Not to be overly dramatic, but scientists think they can catch big health problems like Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) by noticing a change in smell. These are big diseases that mainly affect older people, and they can really mess with a person's thinking skills and movement. At the core of this issue is a protein calle...
Brain inflammation, a significant factor in neurodegenerative diseases, is managed by tiny immune cells called microglia. These cells can be pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2). We know that human stem cells from umbilical cords (hUCMSCs) can release substances that reduce inflammation. Another interesting method is photobiomodulation (PBM), which uses li...
Neurodegenerative diseases are like intricate puzzles that scientists are working hard to solve. They affect both small components (like molecules and cells) and large aspects (such as physiology) of the brain. Traditional tools aren't doing the job well, but a new technology called microfluidics might be the key to unlocking these mysteries. This tech helps scientis...
Ever wondered how Alzheimer's disease affects the brains of people with Down syndrome? Scientists are exploring if changes in brain thickness and size can help figure out the disease's stages. It's like trying to solve a brain puzzle: do these changes look the same as in other inherited forms of Alzheimer's? You see, the brain is a complex organ, and Alzheimer's mak...
Ever heard of rosemary extract? It's like a superhero among plants, packed with powerful compounds that keep our bodies healthy. One of these heroes is rosmarinic acid, known for its amazing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective powers. But what does that mean for us? Well, let's take a look at brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These nast...
Peroxisomes are tiny organelles that play a big role in our cells. They help protect us from damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are like tiny troublemakers in our bodies. Peroxisomes do jobs like breaking down certain metabolites, making cholesterol, and creating ether phospholipids. Unfortunately, these jobs sometimes produce ROS as byproducts. Bu...
Did you know that a single image can reveal secrets about diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS? That's exactly what happened at Nikon's 2024 photomicrography contest. The winner was an image of brain tumor cells from a mouse, snapped by Bruno Cisterna and Eric Vitriol from Augusta University in Georgia. This eye-catching photo gives scientists a peek into how these neur...