We have included below a link to a lecture titled "Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease and Spinal Cord Injury" presented by Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Neurosciences & Director for the Center of Neural Repair
This laboratory studies anatomical, electrophysiological and functional plasticity in the intact and injured adult central nervous system. The staff focus in particular on the functional role of growth factors in modulating plasticity. Models studied in the lab include: 1) mechanisms of learning and memory in the intact adult brain, 2) plasticity and cell degeneration in models of aging and Alzheimer's disease, and 3) axonal plasticity and regeneration after spinal cord injury. In rodent and primate models of spinal cord injury, the staff examine the influences of growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules in modulating axonal responses to injury and the ability of these substances to promote axonal regeneration. In models of basal forebrain and cortical degeneration in rodents and primates, the ability of neurotrophic factors delivered by gene therapy to modulate cellular plasticity and survival. These studies are relevant to the understanding of aging and neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease and also Parkinson's Disease.
Because of the relevence to Parkinson's disease and the clarity of the lecture a link is provided below.
Watch the YouTube video here
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Spinal cord treatment offers hope to Parkinson's patients
Spinal cord treatment offers hope to Parkinson's patients - Reported in the Daily Telegraph. Parkinson's disease patients are being offered fresh hope with a device that stimulates the spinal cord. Early research on mice and rats using the approach improved the slow, stiff movements associated with the condition, and experts believe that if the technique works in humans it could offer the possibility of a more normal lifestyle for Parkinson's patients. Reported in the journal Science (Nicolelis M. Vol. 323(5921) pp. 1578 - 1582. Abstract).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)