Researchers are getting closer monthly to the causes of death in brain cells. An Academy of Finland research team led by Michael Courtney, for instance, just found a new molecular pathway in neurons.
This study identified a new factor that increased cell degeneration. The hope is that these results will help researchers create new drugs that will reduce the cell destruction signals caused by calcium entry. Overall benefits? It’s really another small step toward the ongoing work of curing and preventing neurological illness. How so?
The pathway discovered is a factor in the degeneration of brain cells, which in turn plays an important role in neurological conditions and diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and stroke.
Check out results of this study in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience and also check back here at BrainBasedBusiness where updates will be post on this one.
The research is based on the fact that when neurons in the brain are over-stimulated, it leads to cell death, or apoptosis. The diagram shows normal white blood cells one that’s died. This study shows that the
While it’s still a mystery how neurons die, this research affirms that the destruction of cells by over-stimulation depends on excess entry of calcium into the cells.
The next challenge is to map how cells generate destruction signals in response to the calcium, in the hope of finding new targets for drugs or prevention of brain cell death. Given the desire or need for people to work longer, this study could be a breakthrough in helping more people to do just that. What do you think?
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