Researchers create 'Alzheimer's in a dish'
Researchers create 'Alzheimer's in a dish'
A huge breakthrough in Alzheimer's researchand one that doesn't involve tests on mice: Scientists have successfully created "Alzheimer's in a dish" using human brain cells in research that will make it much cheaper and easier to test new anti-Alzheimer's drugs, reports the New York Times .
In a study published in the journal Nature , Massachusetts General Hospital researchers describe how brain cells that had formed networks in a petri dish developed the telltale plaques and tangles associated with the disease after genes for Alzheimer's had been added.
Until now, researchers have used mice for Alzheimer's research, which is time-consuming and often ineffective, with many drugs that "cured" the disease in mice turning out to be useless with human patients, Voice of America reports.
Lead researcher Rudolph Tanzi says that with the new systemwhich can be adapted to other neurodegenerative disorders"we can test hundreds of thousands of drugs in a matter of months"; he has already begun testing thousands of experimental drugs.
The researchers say the dish experiments have also provided fresh evidence that buildup of a protein called amyloid kicks off the "vicious cycle" in the brain that leads to dementia.
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Keep on trying to find a cure!!!
Very cool and hoping for success. Alzheimer's isa nightmare for patients and families.
I know it..my Father died of complications of Alzheimers.....it's a devastating and degrading disease.The only saving grace is that the patient has no idea what is going on with them.
Fantastic a major leap.
Keep up the good work!!