The causes of Alzheimer’s disease

“Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that affects a person’s ability to function independently” (from the Mayo Clinic). Featured article: *Tang, Y., Zhang, D., Gong, X., & Zheng, J. (2022). A mechanistic survey…

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Amyloid-Beta pores

A new way of looking at Alzheimer’s Disease?

A different perspective on the factors that cause Alzheimer’s disease? Will it help bring about successful treatments? Featured article: *Pannuzzo, M. (2021, May 29). Beta-amyloid pore linked to controlled calcium influx into the cell: A new paradigm for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. [PDF] “Despite tremendous worldwide efforts, clinical trials assessing Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related therapeutics have been relentlessly…

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The importance of sleep and its impacts (physical and mental health)

Quick bibliography: Reviews/recent articles on the importance of adequate sleep for good physical and mental health. Classic reviews: Dewald, J. F., Meijer, A. M., Oort, F. J., Kerkhof, G. A., & Bögels, S. M. (2010). The influence of sleep quality, sleep duration and sleepiness on school performance in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(3), 179-189. [Cited by] “Insufficient sleep, poor sleep…

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Topic of the day (TOTD): Social withdrawal and neuropsychiatric disorders

Review: The mental processes that allow us humans to live beside and with other humans are extremely complex. Our brains have become highly specialized for processing all manner of social stimulation (relationship formation, social learning, decision-making, etc.) The result is that we have developed a “social brain.” However, “high complexity may also be associated with a high susceptibility to several pathogenic interventions.” Social deficits can…

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Science highlights: human adult neurogenesis, and a fungus killing amphibians

A new study provides further evidence that the adult brain in humans does grow new neurons (a process called neurogenesis) in the hippocampus–the section of the brain where learning, memory, and mood regulation is controlled. These new brain cells may play a role in depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, etc. Read the article (Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, 25 March 2019). And, go to the source —…

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Regular exercise helps the brain

Regular exercise helps prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Exercise aids in the generation of neurons, improvement of memory, and the brain’s ability to change and adapt as people grow older. Radak, Z., Hart, N., Sarga, L., Koltai, E., Atalay, M., Ohno, H., & Boldogh, I. (2010). Exercise plays a preventive role against Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease : JAD, 20(3), 777-783….

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