A Decreased Risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in Your Genes?

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and The DR4 Gene

    A recent Stanford led medical study about Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease has revealed that people with a mutation of the DR4 gene have a decreased risk of PD and Alzheimer's. About 1 in 5 people carry the mutation of the DR4 gene, which was discovered to reduce the chance of developing PD or Alzheimer's by 10%. Researchers also believe the tau proteins involved in Alzheimer's may also be involved with PD, hence the close relatedness of decreased risks that we see in this article and the gathered genomic-based conclusions. Other studies have shown that the DR4 mutation protects against PD, and combining the new research, it is believed that it may pose the same effect in preventing Alzheimer's. The data suggested that in people with DR4, there were fewer neurofibrillary tangles, which as associated with the tau proteins that aggressively effect the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease as it progresses, creating the plaque that impairs cognition.  There are immunological connections with DR4 as well, and they are promising enough to possibly initiate the creation of a vaccine that can attack and destroy the fibers that create the tau proteins coating the brain.

    With a significant increase in patients with both PD and Alzheimer's, this idea of a vaccine could be very promising and useful in the near future. Also, the fact that the scientists at Stanford were able to discover and pinpoint the exact gene is also very exciting as well. As we continue to make these advances in science and medicine, many things are looking up in our future and the future of middle aged individuals that will soon be susceptible to deteriorating and life altering diseases and conditions. Overall, this article was exciting to read because of how relevant this is to the conditions we are facing in the medical field, and have been, over the past two decades. With this in mind, what these scientists and Stanford University are doing is amazing, and I am ecstatic to be in the field of biology at this time in our world!

LINKS:

1) https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/08/stanford-medicine-led-study-finds-genetic-factor-fends-off-alzhe.html 

2) https://www.sciencealert.com/a-single-gene-variant-protects-from-both-alzheimers-and-parkinsons 

Biological angle to hypnosis. Is it really possible or is this all on your head?

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/30/science/hypnosis-brain-changes.html?_r=0

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hypnosis-memory-brain/

Hypnosis has been around for centuries and it has been accessible to reducing stress, anxiety and pain. This is not brainwashing or magic, hypnosis is a trance-like state of heightened concentration and it’s more common than you might think. According to a recent study conducted by Dr. David Spiegel, of Stanford University School of Medicine, discloses interesting facts about how the brain changes during hypnosis. For the hypnosis study, Spiegel and his colleagues chose 57 people to participate and over 50% of the participants were hypnotized, the remaining subjects did not appear to be successfully hypnotized. The study reveals that for those who were clearly hypnotized, they showed distinct changes in the brain that were not present prior to being hypnotized. Those who did not appear to be hypnotized did not show the distinct brain changes. Some of the changes that occur during hypnosis are the insula and the dorsal anterior cingulate. According to the study, the connection between the two increased; the insula is the part of the brain that connects the mind and the body and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex helps a person carry out tasks. The other portion of the brain that changes during hypnosis is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This cortex becomes disconnected from the brain’s default mode, which is believed to be related to a disconnection between a person’s actions and the awareness of those actions.

I personally think hypnosis is achievable only to a certain point. It's just another state of mind however it is up to the individual how susceptible they allow themselves to become. I tried being hypnotized once and it didn't work, I'd be willing to try again to see if it will have any effect on me. 

A New Effective Method of Genome-Editing

Research and technology in genetic modification and genome-editing is a contemporary field that is broadening its horizons at an exponential rate. Genome-editing often relies on the technique known as CRISPR/Cas9. This processes relies on two key tools of gene insertion. The first of which being an endonuclease enzyme to cut the DNA at specific points designated by the researcher. The second tool for CRISPR/Cas9 is the use of a promoter (a promoter is an on switch to turn on a designated gene). This process has been used by researchers to insert genes and to disable genes at the researcher's control. However, using this method in humans is risky. The use of a Cas9 to cut DNA at specific locations could also cut DNA at unintended locations, and the use of a promoter could also effect unintended genes.

A new method was tested and developed by the Stanford University Medical Center led by Mark Kay and Adi Barzel. The goal of their testing was to not only eliminate the use of nucleases and promoters for gene insertion, but to also cure hemophilia in mice. To do this they used a modified virus that was removed of all viral DNA and left only therapeutic DNA containing a blood clotting factor gene. This was inserted into mice and targeted the albumin gene. They then relied on genetic recombination of chromosomes to copy the genes inserted into the mice. They were able to cure hemophilia in both newborn and adult mice with the inserted blood clotting factor gene. This is revolutionary in that not only were they successful in curing a disease that effects human's worldwide, but also it eliminates the risk of the old method of gene insertion. Much more work, research, and testing must be done on the new method, but the future of gene therapy in humans is looking promising.

Article Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141029145444.htm
Supporting Link:http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13864.html

Protein-blocking antibody allows immune system to destroy most cancers

Due to their research, Irving Weissman and his team have been awarded a $20 million grant to further their research into human trials after finding that a protein body antibody allows the natural immune system to fight and kill most cancer cells. A protein, CD47, had been previously found in blood cancer cells, while also being found in all human cells. Since the immune system recognizes this protein, it acted as a shield for cancer cells to be protected from the immune system. Weissman historically found that when blocking this protein in the cancer cells, it allowed for the immune system to attack and kill these specific cancer cells and fight the disease.

Now, Weissman has found this identical protein not only on blood cancer cells, but every human tumor they have checked thus far. To determine whether or not CD47 had a role in the death of other cancer cells, Weissman exposed cancer cells in a petri dish to an immune cell and anti-CD47; in the presence of anti-CD47, the cancer cell was killed by the macrophage. This process was then repeated when various cancers were transplanted into mice; each experiment showed promising shrinking or death of cancer cells in the mice. Weissman is confident in the data they have collected and is certain his research will move to phase I human trials.

Once again, new research is exposed regarding the destruction of cancer cells; although sounding promising, the ultimate question is whether or not it can be reproduced in humans. Hopefully, with the grant money they were issued, this process can be completed as efficiently and quickly as possible, with new cancer treatments always being desired throughout the scientific and medical community. It will be extremely interesting to follow this research into the trial of humans, or if a citizen is able to get a hold of this treatment for "research" purposes; it is always possible that the next mile-stone in modern medicine is right around the corner.