Health Discoveries in Neurodegenerative
Targeting protein may halt progression of Alzheimer's
September 27, 2010
Targeting a protein called neutral sphingomyelinase (N-Smase) may help researchers find a way to halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study reports.
A neurosciences research team at Rush University Medical Center determined that the N-Smase is triggered by activated brain cells and beta-amyloid that play a role in the destruction of brain neurons. But they found that when the protein is inhibited, the activated brain cells and beta amyloid are unable to cause neuron damage.
"There are multiple, neurotoxic, disease-causing pathways that converge on the neutral sphingomyelinase that can cause neuronal loss in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient," said Kalipada Pahan, a neurological researcher at Rush. "If we can stop the activation of the neutral sphingomylinase, we may be able to stop memory loss and the progression of Alzheimer's disease."
The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer's Association.
The Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's top 50 hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery. The program is judged by patient outcomes and care-related factors such as patient volume, nursing care and advanced technology.
A neurosciences research team at Rush University Medical Center determined that the N-Smase is triggered by activated brain cells and beta-amyloid that play a role in the destruction of brain neurons. But they found that when the protein is inhibited, the activated brain cells and beta amyloid are unable to cause neuron damage.
"There are multiple, neurotoxic, disease-causing pathways that converge on the neutral sphingomyelinase that can cause neuronal loss in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient," said Kalipada Pahan, a neurological researcher at Rush. "If we can stop the activation of the neutral sphingomylinase, we may be able to stop memory loss and the progression of Alzheimer's disease."
The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer's Association.
The Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's top 50 hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery. The program is judged by patient outcomes and care-related factors such as patient volume, nursing care and advanced technology.