Laser Destroys Alzheimer's Protein

Alzheimer's and Dementia Weekly
Researchers have found that a technique used to visualize amyloid fibers in the laboratory might have the potential to destroy them in the clinic. The technique involves zapping the fluorescently-tagged fibers with a laser, which can inhibit their growth and degrade them. This study, appearing in this week's JBC, may offer a non-drug alternative to treat amyloid-based disorders like Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases.

Yuji Goto and colleagues had been studying amyloids, dense tangles of protein, to better understand how they form. In an effort to view amyloid formation under a microscope in real-time, they added an amyloid specific dye called thioflavin T (ThT) to the tangles and then hit it with a laser beam to induce fluorescence. Surprisingly, they found that under the right conditions, the laser could actually...read the whole article

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A study involving an experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease is being conducted here in Omaha.

Known as the "Bapi" study, the University of Nebraska Medical Center is one of 200 sites across the United States and Canada testing a drug aimed at slowing the progression of the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect everyday life.

Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, affecting approximately 18 million people worldwide. Alzheimer’s-related medical complications are.....read the whole article

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