Sentences with phrase «synapse loss»

"Synapse loss" refers to the decrease or weakening of connections between nerve cells in the brain. It can hinder the normal transmission of information and impair brain function. Full definition
Our lab is working to identify how astrocytes interact with and regulate neuronal synapses throughout life: in development of neuronal circuits, in adult synaptic plasticity, and in synapse loss in aging.
Remarkably, they found that anti-IFNAR did seem to have neuro - protective effects in mice with lupus, preventing synapse loss when compared with mice who were not given the drug.
In the first group extensive synapse loss occurred in the hippocampus — loss that did not occur in the mice in which C1q had been inhibited.
-- discovered that C1q appears to be involved in synapse loss linked to glaucoma.
They saw that mice lacking this protein were protected from synapse loss via similar pruning mechanisms or other pathways that protect neuron health.
«Early synapse loss is a feature of many neurodegenerative diseases,» says Stevens.
C1q also plays a positive role in the brain by clearing out dead cells and helping target harmful materials, so learning how to manipulate its presence to prevent debilitating synapse loss while maintaining its normal functions will require further research.
The researchers tested their theory using mouse models of Alzheimer's, employing high - resolution imaging techniques to pinpoint when and where synapse loss occurred.
Hence, understanding how synaptic pruning occurs may shed light on neurodevelopmental disorders and on neurodegenerative diseases in which a synaptic pruning gone awry may contribute to pathological synapse loss
Because synapse loss plays a role in a wide range of other disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Huntington's and glaucoma, «we're excited about the possibility that this is a more global mechanism, that it's not disease - specific,» Stevens says.
In a study published this week in Science, a team of researchers led by neurologist Beth Stevens at Boston Children's Hospital has found evidence that such synapse loss may in fact occur much earlier in Alzheimer's disease.
The team decided to see if they could reduce synapse loss by administering a drug that blocks interferon - alpha's receptor, called an anti-IFNAR.
Beth Stevens, PhD Assistant Professor FM Kirby Neurobiology Center Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Immune Mechanisms of Synapse Loss in Health and Disease
«I think of neurogenesis as a signpost of regeneration in the brain, but ultimately I think that it's changes to the neurons themselves — preventing synapse loss, boosting plasticity — that are going to improve cognition.
Stevens and her team suspected that the mechanisms involved in such pruning might be aberrantly turned back on — hijacked, so to speak — to contribute to synapse loss in Alzheimer's.
Synapse loss is typical of the early stages of Alzheimer's and similar disorders.
«Type II diabetes has recently emerged as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease but it has not been clear what the connection is to the synapse loss experienced with Alzheimer's disease,» he said.
Impaired synaptic activity and synapse loss have been reported in Alzheimer's disease, and synapse loss has been shown to correlate with the severity of memory impairment.
«We have identified a new molecular mechanism which directly contributes to this synapse loss — a discovery we hope could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments.»
«So we wanted to know: Could [such proteins] be contributing to synapse loss in these models?»
«It's bringing together two parts of the field... synapse loss and inflammation problems are linked.»
In the brain, a synapse (orange) is seen being wrapped around and attacked by immune cells called microglia (green), leading to synapse loss.
If Sarm1 plays a role in axon or synapse loss in our model, it would be an attractive drug target for treating glaucoma.
Scientists are discovering that age - related changes in the brain such as atrophy, synapse loss and free radicals may contribute to AD, as does genetics.
We will use a glaucoma model to study whether the gene Sarm1 plays a role in glaucoma - induced axon death and synapse loss in the retina and brain.
Building on her work in characterizing microglial subpopulations, she proposes to decipher the precise anatomical location and proximity of microglia most likely to drive neurodegeneration and synapse loss.
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