Protein that protects brains from Alzheimers identified

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/20/1286092/-Breakthrough-study-identifies-protein-that-protects-aging-brain-from-Alzheimer-s-and-dementia

Researchers have found that a protein active during fetal brain development, called REST, switches back on later in life to protect aging neurons from various stresses, including the toxic effects of abnormal proteins. But in those with Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment, the protein -- RE1-Silencing Transcription factor -- is absent from key brain regions.

"Our work raises the possibility that the abnormal protein aggregates associated with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases may not be sufficient to cause dementia; you may also need a failure of the brain's stress response system," said Bruce Yankner, Harvard Medical School professor of genetics and leader of the study, in a release.

"If true, this opens up a new area in terms of treatment possibilities for the more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer's disease," said Yankner, who in the 1990s was the first to demonstrate the toxic effects of amyloid beta, the hallmark abnormal protein in Alzheimer's.

[Orsino]

1. Kick for motherfucking science, baby. n/t

[Javaman]

4. +1000 nt

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Wish I could tell my grandmother about this. She was terrified of getting Alzheimers

But I told her that since she didn't have it in her 90s, she probably wasn't going to get it.

[mtasselin]

3. Don't tell

Don't tell the people at the flat earth society about this, never mind tell them they would not believe it anyways. They would have to hear it from the fat guy or one of those other half baked intellectual morons.