AI SummaryMutations in the gene Foxp2 have been linked to speech disorders, specifically apraxia. Researchers from MIT and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University conducted a study on mice and found that these mutations disrupt the formation of dendrites and neuronal synapses in the brain, affecting the ability to produce high-frequency sounds. The mutations prevent… Continue reading Scientists discover how mutations in a language gene produce speech deficits
Tag: Parkinson’s Disease
A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer’s treatment
AI SummaryMIT neuroscientists have discovered a peptide that can reverse neurodegeneration and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by interfering with an enzyme called CDK5 that is overactive in Alzheimer’s patients. In mice, the peptide led to reductions in neurodegeneration, DNA damage, and improvements in cognitive abilities, leading researchers to believe it could serve as a… Continue reading A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer’s treatment
How Huntington’s disease affects different neurons
AI SummaryIn patients with Huntington’s disease, neurodegeneration of two distinct cell populations in the striatum, the striosomes and the matrix, contribute to motor impairments and mood disorders, respectively. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers at MIT have mapped these cell populations and their vulnerability to Huntington’s disease, hoping to develop new treatments that target specific cells.… Continue reading How Huntington’s disease affects different neurons
Five from MIT named 2023 Quad Fellows
AI SummaryFour MIT alumni and a Harvard-MIT doctoral student have been selected for the inaugural class of the Quad Fellowship, a joint initiative of the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The fellowship aims to support exceptional individuals pursuing STEM graduate study in the United States and provides a $50,000 award for… Continue reading Five from MIT named 2023 Quad Fellows
Small studies of 40-hertz sensory stimulation confirm safety, suggest Alzheimer’s benefits
AI SummaryEarly-stage clinical studies have found that 40-hertz sensory stimulation was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects and produced neurological and behavioral benefits among participants with Alzheimer’s disease. The studies are preliminary and more extensive research is needed to determine the efficacy of 40-hertz sensory stimulation as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s.A pair of early-stage… Continue reading Small studies of 40-hertz sensory stimulation confirm safety, suggest Alzheimer’s benefits