Brain Research: Scientists identify new drug target to treat ALS, ♦ Single protein causes Parkinson's disease ♦ Keeping mind, body active may not protect against underlying signs of Alzheimer's

Keeping mind, body active may not protect against underlying signs of Alzheimer's While participating in physical activities such as bike riding, dancing, walking and gardening and mentally stimulating activities such as crosswords and reading may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, they may not do so by affecting the underlying markers for the disease, according to a study

Single protein causes Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy Several neurodegenerative disorders are caused by aggregates of a single protein known as alpha-synuclein. Neurobiologists have discovered that the shape of these aggregates -- 'cylinders' or 'ribbons' -- determines whether a patient develops Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy, respectively.

Scientists identify new drug target to treat ALS Cellular mechanism that can be targeted to treat ALS has been discovered by scientists. The researchers revealed that increasing levels of a certain key protein successfully protected against cell death in both genetic and sporadic versions of the disease. What's more, treating this pathway may also have implications for frontotemporal dementia because many of the same proteins are involved.

Regular soda, please: Hormone that differentiates sugar, diet sweeteners could exist in humans We've all been there: We eat an entire sleeve of fat-free, low-calorie cookies and we're stuffing ourselves with more food 15 minutes later. One theory to explain this phenomenon is that artificial sweeteners don't contain the calories or energy that evolution has trained the brain to expect from sweet-tasting foods, so they don't fool the brain into satisfying hunger. However, until now, nobody understood how organisms distinguish between real sugar and artificial sweetener.