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Research News
 
Changes In Cortical Thickness Mirror Loss of Network Connectivity in AD
8 May 2008. The arrangement of linked brain regions into functional networks supports complex mental activity...
 
SLICK Science—Imaging Advances May Aid Brain Research
8 May 2008. Peering through the dense thicket of axons and dendrites to figure out what individual neurons are up to in brain tissue is no mean feat...
 
AD Immunotherapy: Toward Prevention, DNA-based Vaccines?
7 May 2008. Hopes of harnessing the immune system to fight Alzheimer disease took another hit...
 
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In the spotlight

Image of the Week: SLICK Neurons in Mouse Cortex
View larger image
Image credit: Guoping Feng
A new method called Single-neuron Labeling with Inducible Cre-mediated Knockout, or SLICK for short, labels neurons with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) while at the same time rendering them susceptible to conditional knockout of any gene. This slice of cortex from the SLICK-X mouse line shows that a subset of cortical neurons express YFP (which is actually green). The green neurons also express a Cre recombinase -estrogen receptor chimera. When crossed to any conditional knockout mice with a flox-flanked gene, knockout will happen only in green neurons and
not until the mice are fed the estrogen receptor ligand tamoxifen. The labeling of these genetically manipulated neurons with YFP makes it possible to study the morphology and the dynamics of structural plasticity in the brain. Any ideas for how this could be used to study neurodegeneration? Write a comment!
Time to Envision Preventive Immunotherapy?
View larger image and caption
Image credit: Michael Agadjanyan
A new study shows that a DNA-based, anti-Aβ vaccine protects AD transgenic mice that don't yet show AD pathology. The new vaccine represents a paradigm shift in the field, where all vaccines that have reached human testing thus far have been peptide-based and geared at treating mild to moderate AD. Looking beyond the published work, lead investigator Michael Agadjanyan proposes a novel preventive AD immunotherapy strategy with a vaccine that would deploy help from memory T cells developed in response to previous shots against common bugs such as tetanus, pertussis, the flu. Given
clinical setbacks of peptide-based treatment vaccines, is it time to consider prophylaxis and DNA vaccines as alternative research opportunities? Take on board Esther Landhuis's news story, a technical dialog about it, and Agadjanyan's comment on related AN1792 data, and ponder his future vaccination scheme. Then join the discussion—we cordially invite community feedback.
Keystone Basic Science News
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Image credit: Ikuo Hayashi
Fiendishly complicated, γ-secretase has proved a formidable foe to the structurally minded scientist. But goaded by éminence grise T.I., this Japanese bunch of rebels is deploying the force of SCAM and other stratagems to conquer it yet. Following our initial Keystone Treatment News series, now read our next series of stories from last month’s Alzheimer Disease conference in Keystone, Colorado. Learn how some rebels explore the bends and recesses of the enzyme’s deep space, while others take on elusive science mysteries of Alzheimerology. May the Force be with them.
γ Slowly Relinquishes Its Secrets
Lipids Grease γ-Secretase Activity
Loss Versus Gain—Mutations a Drag on γ-Secretase
BACE, Age, Stress, Energy—Is Translation to Blame?
Alzheimer Disease Research—How to Move Forward?
Our Centennial series invited the field to train its eyes firmly on the future. We'd like to continue to solicit your sage advice—and wild ideas—for future directions in Alzheimer disease research. To this end, Alzforum scientific advisers past and present have helped us compile a summary table of ”What We Know/What We Don’t Know.” It’s a fresh and easy-to-use format to debate and discuss what the field has achieved and the most urgent priorities for future progress.
 
 
What's New

Conference - Posted 8 May 2008
38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience: Neuroscience 2008: 15-19 November 2008, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
 
Comments - Posted 8 May 2008
Read remarks by Arthur W. Toga about He Y et al.
PAPER: Structural insights into aberrant topological patterns of large-scale cortical networks in Alzheimer's disease.
 
Comments - Posted 8 May 2008
Read remarks by Jurgen Gotz about Liang Z et al.
PAPER: Decrease of Protein Phosphatase 2A and its Association with Accumulation and Hyperphosphorylation of Tau in Down Syndrome.
 
Comments - Posted 8 May 2008
Read remarks by Alex Whitworth, Leo Pallanck about Yang Y et al.
PAPER: Pink1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics through interaction with the fission/fusion machinery.
 
Comments - Posted 7 May 2008
Read remarks by Michael G. Agadjanyan about Pride M et al.
PAPER: Progress in the active immunotherapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease: clinical investigations into AN1792-associated meningoencephalitis.
 
Comments - Posted 7 May 2008
Read remarks by David Holtzman about Bayer AJ et al.
NEWS: AD Immunotherapy: Toward Prevention, DNA-based Vaccines?
 
Comments - Posted 7 May 2008
Read remarks by Rachelle Doody about Wilcock GK et al.
PAPER: Efficacy and safety of tarenflurbil in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomised phase II trial.
 
New Bookmarking Capability - Posted 5 May 2008
We have added the ability to share and tag Alzforum pages via Del.icio.us, Digg, Facebook, Google and Newsvine. Check out the topmost right-margin box under "Share & Bookmark."

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AlzGene
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An up-to-date collection of all published genetic association studies.
Forum Calendar

Forum Discussion: Do Somatic Mutations Generate Toxic Abeta Peptides in Sporadic Alzheimer Disease?
This discussion is led by Vincent Marchesi of Yale University. We invite your comments.

Forum Discussion: Collective Thought at Its Best: Let’s Contemplate the Centennial
Enjoy the offerings of this Centennial Page, and write back with your comments.

Alzforum Book Chapter
Alzheimer Research Forum: A Knowledge Base and E-Community for AD Research [.pdf]: Read the chapter by June Kinoshita and Gabrielle Strobel published in Alzheimer: 100 Years and Beyond (Springer, 2006).
Topics in Neurodegeneration
Download Powerpoint Presentations created by top experts in neurodegenerative disease research. Available for educational or personal use. Edited by Daniel M. Michaelson, PhD, and Tobias Hartmann, PhD.

ISOA

The Drug Development Company Database and Tutorial represent the collaborative efforts of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)/Institute for the Study on Aging (ISOA) and the Alzheimer Research Forum. Our thanks to ADDF, Jens Eckstein, and the Advisory Board for bringing this project to fruition.
ISOA
Polls
 
Is AD just the extreme end of the spectrum of normal brain aging?

Yes - we'd all get it if we lived long enough
 16
 
No - it's a pathologic process distinct from normal aging
 57
 
We don't know enough to say one way or the other
 26
 
Responses: 99
 
 
 
 
 
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