Does the Brain Make Phospho-Tau to Fight Viruses?
In AD brains, cells ramp up expression of herpes virus proteins. In cultured neurons, these proteins boost p-tau. In turn, p-tau suppresses viral proteins, protecting neurons.
NEWS
Microglia Drive Neurodegeneration in Niemann-Pick Type C
In mice, eliminating the NPC1 gene from microglia recapitulated aspects of the lysosomal storage disorder.
Bile Acid: An Elixir of Youth?
In lab animals, lithocholic acid replicates life-extending benefits of caloric restriction.
One Last Round in an Open Debate: Final Exchange
Dennis Selkoe offers a closing response.
Can Human Cytomegalovirus Infections Spark Alzheimer’s Pathology?
In postmortem tissue, nearly half of AD patients had HCMV infections in the brain and gut. In cerebral organoids, HCMV triggered accumulation of Aβ and p-tau212.
Neuronal Activity Ups Mitochondrial Transcription, Rallying Energy Reserves
With age, this coupling erodes, making synapses sluggish. Rekindling it lessens synaptic deficits and memory loss in old mice.
One Last Round in an Open Debate: Attempt at Synthesis
Scott Small offers a closing argument.
… And a Response
Dennis Selkoe replies to Scott Small.
SPOTLIGHT
‘Dear FDA’ Proposal Sparks Debate, Open Letter Exchange
A proposal that regulators approve Alzheimer’s immunotherapies based on biomarkers prompted spirited discussion on Alzforum, with more than two dozen comments from around the world and two successive responses by the proposal’s corresponding author Dennis Selkoe. This, in turn, inspired an exchange of Open Letters between Scott Small and Selkoe. The latter is closed; the original debate remains open. Happy New Year to all.
Neuronal Activity Prompts Mitochondrial Transcription, Rallying Energy Reserves
Synaptic transmission requires a bottomless supply of energy. A new study illuminates how neurons manage to summon it. Incoming synaptic signals trigger an influx of calcium into the mitochondria. There, the transcription factor CREB revs expression of genes needed to produce ATP. In aged mice, this supply chain weakens, rendering synapses, and memory, sluggish.
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