Ideas for Life » brain

Alzheimer’s patients have high levels of magnetic iron oxides

neilaitchison — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:25:38 +0000

Higher than normal levels of magnetic iron oxides are present in Alzheimer patients, researchers at Keele University have discovered.

The results of a small scale study of Alzheimer patients indicates that iron accumulation associated with Alzheimer’s appears to involve the formation of strongly magnetic iron compounds.

The findings could lead to a method of diagnosing the disease using an MRI scan.

For more see Keele University.

Spur to Parkinson’s treatment

neilaitchison — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:01:23 +0000

Possible new treatments for Parkinson’s disease could result from a new three-year research project at Aston University, which has just been given £200,000 funding by the Parkinson’s Disease Society.

The study aims to understand better and improve electoral stimulation therapies that are used as a treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

For more details see Aston University.

Insight on wasting disease

neilaitchison — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:45:23 +0000

An insight in to the possible cause of degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease has been discovered by scientists at the University of Warwick.

Researchers have discovered that drying out a protein in the blood that transports iron around the body can leave the potentially dangerous iron exposed.

Patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s are known to have higher than normal levels of iron in the brain.

For more information see the University of Warwick.