As the largest resource of information specific to women's brain health, we are sure you will find what you are looking for, and promise that you will discover new information.
Published on: August 16, 2012
by Science Codex:
High baseline levels of neuronal activity in the best connected parts of the brain may play an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the main conclusion of a new study appearing in PLoS Computational Biology from a group at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
In recent times, it has become clear that brain activity patterns change at an early stage in Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, there is reason to believe that, instead of being the consequence of structural damage, they might be the cause: recently, a direct influence of excessive regional neuronal activity on Alzheimer pathology was found in animal experiments.
By showing that highly connected ‘hub’ regions (which display most Alzheimer pathology) indeed possess the highest levels of activity, the present study offers support for the unconventional view that brain dynamics may play a causal role in Alzheimer. As first author, Willem de Haan, says, “this implies that the investigation of factors regulating neuronal activity may open up novel ways to detect, elucidate and counter the disease”.
Using a realistic computational model of the human cortex, the authors simulated progressive synaptic damage to brain regions based on their level of activity, and subsequently investigated the effect on the remaining network. With this ‘activity dependent degeneration’ model, they could not only offer an explanation for the distribution pattern of Alzheimer pathology but also reproduce a range of phenomena encountered in actual neurophysiological data of Alzheimer patients: loss and slowing of neuronal activity, loss of communication between areas, and specific changes in brain network organization.
In upcoming projects the authors plan to verify the predictions from this study in patient data, but also to continue modeling studies. They conclude that: “the use of ‘computational neurology’ and network theory to unite experimental results and find plausible underlying principles in the growing bulk of human brain data seems inevitable”.
Source: http://www.sciencecodex.com/is_too_much_brain_activity_connected_to_alzheimers_disease-96849
Our bodies change as we age – partly due to natural physiological aging and partly due to lifestyle choices. As early as our thirties, we begin to lose a small amount of muscle mass, and,...
Utilizing tau PET imaging, new research finds tau to be a more accurate indication for future neurodegeneration, highlighting its potential for precision medicine-based treatment approaches. Amyloid-β has long been the bane of every Alzheimer’s researcher. Often found in...
It’s never too late to start working on brain health. That said, the strategies for how to optimize your brain will vary depending on several aspects, not the least of which is...
The material presented through the Think Tank feature on this website is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. WBHI strongly advises all questioners and viewers using this feature with health problems to consult a qualified physician, especially before starting any treatment. The materials provided on this website cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. The materials are not exhaustive and cannot always respect all the most recent research in all areas of medicine.
