Mental health is a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.
Researchers discover how mutations in presenilin gene cause early onset Alzheimer’s disease — Findings could pave the way for novel treatments – Researchers have discovered how mutations in the presenilin 1 gene cause early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The finding is reported online in the journal Cell.
Autism genome project identifies genetic variants that may make people susceptible to disorder – Autism is caused in part by rare genetic changes called copy number variants (CNVs), revealed by an international consortium of researchers from more than 70 universities, including the University of Utah.
Newly discovered gene variants lead to autism and mental retardation — Inner structure of nerve synapses defective in patients; human geneticists from Heidelberg publish in Nature Genetics – Researchers working with Professor Gudrun Rappold, Director of the Department of Molecular Human Genetics at Heidelberg University Hospital, have discovered previously unknown mutations in autistic and mentally impaired patients in what is known as the SHANK2 gene, a gene that is partially responsible for linking nerve cells. However, a single gene mutation is not always enough to trigger the illness.
Protein regulates enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s disease – Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have zeroed in on a protein that may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The team found that increasing levels of the protein (called GGA3) prevented the accumulation of an enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s.
Mount Sinai identifies first drug to demonstrate therapeutic effect in a type of autism – Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a drug that improves communication between nerve cells in a mouse model of Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMS). Behavioral symptoms of PMS fall under the autism spectrum disorder category.
Alcohol consumption may protect against risk of AD, particularly in female nonsmokers — According to new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease – A new study published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests a protective effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in women who do not smoke.
Study finds Alzheimer’s disease link in eyes of children with Down syndrome — Findings may lead to eye tests for brain disease in Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome – Researchers are going to develop an innovative eye test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. As they discovered the protein that forms plaques in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease also accumulates in the eyes of people with Down syndrome.
New gene associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease – Researchers have identified a gene that appears to increase a person’s risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of Alzheimer’s disease.
Study identifies food combination associated with reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk – Individuals whose diet includes more salad dressing, nuts, fish, poultry and certain fruits and vegetables and fewer high-fat dairy products, red meats, organ meats and butter appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Federal Vaccine Court Rules Against Autism Families — Government’s Refusal to Fund Sound Science Stacks Deck Against Vaccine-Injured Children and Casts Doubt on the Integrity of the National Immunization Program says SafeMinds. – US ‘vaccine court’ ruled in three separate cases that the mercury containing preservative thiomersal does not cause autism. This ruling supports the broad scientific consensus.
Oats study to boost brain power for older adults — Ingredients found in oats could boost your brain power into old age. – Researchers at UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre are investigating whether an oat extract can improve cognitive performance in older adults.
Autism’s earliest symptoms not evident in children under 6 months — Condition is characterized by a slow decline rather than an abrupt loss of skills, study says – A study of the development of autism in infants, comparing the behavior of the siblings of children diagnosed with autism to that of babies developing normally, has found that the nascent symptoms of the condition – a lack of shared eye contact, smiling and communicative babbling – are not present at 6 months, but emerge gradually and only become apparent during the latter part of the first year of life.
