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Cognitive and Psychosocial Function in Retired Professional Hockey Players was published in the  Journal of Neurology , Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry . The ongoing study, which began in 2010, is led by Dr. Brian Levine, neuropsychologist and senior scientist at the Rotman Research Institute and professor of Psychology and Medicine (Neurology) at the University of Toronto. It focuses on retired professional ice hockey players' cognitive and behavioural functioning in relation to their age, concussion history, and genetic risk. "There has been a lot of attention on repeated concussions  and neurodegenerative disease, particularly in post-mortem samples of ex-athletes," says Dr. Levine. "There is a need for more comprehensive assessment of mental and behavioral changes during life. This longitudinal study will allow us to track changes over time to better understand aging and brain health in retired professional athletes." Thirty-three retired professional ...

Ayala and her lab study TDP-43, a protein that binds to RNA and plays a role in gene expression. In 2006, researchers discovered that TDP-43 was the main feature of neurological disorders like ALS and frontotemporal dementia. TDP-43 is an important protein tied to cell survival, metabolism and function that has been conserved by evolution in animals from flies to humans. Without TDP-43, scientists see animals develop locomotive defects and shortened lifespans. Mice that lack this protein do not survive beyond the embryonic stage. It regulates many genes and controls the processing of messenger RNA. When TDP-43 builds up in cells, it causes damaging plaque to accumulate; this is a hallmark of ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. It also is present in other types of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Devastating Diseases ALS is a late onset disease; the average age of diagnosis is 55. A devastating illness with no cure, most people die within ...

First comprehensive map "Previous research examined transport processes in small areas of the axon, such as the very beginning or the very end. This left it unclear how the movement of molecules through the axon was regulated over long distances. In our study, we provide the first comprehensive map of transport in mammalian axons," says Casper Hoogenraad, Professor of Cell Biology at Utrecht University, explaining the relevance of this study. Stumped In most neurons, an area between the cell body and the axon called the 'axon initial segment' serves as a checkpoint: only some molecules can pass through it. This area has stumped scientists for more than a decade. Why should one type of molecule be able to pass through this area, while others cannot? The answer is to be found in the traffic regulator, a protein called MAP2. "With this discovery, we have answered a fundamental question about the unique  functioning of nerve cells that has occupied scientist...

About 500 million people worldwide suffer from these diseases, which cause millions of deaths each year. Co-lead researcher, ANU Professor John Carver, said that two unrelated proteins aggregate in UHT milk over a period  of months to form clusters called amyloid fibrils, which cause the milk to transform from a liquid into a gel. He said the same type of protein clusters are found in plaque deposits in cases of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. "Parkinson's, dementia and type 2 diabetes are big problems for the ageing population in Australia and many other countries around the world," said Professor Carver from the ANU Research School of Chemistry. "Our interest in milk proteins led to a discovery of the reason for this gelling phenomenon occurring in aged UHT milk." "The research does not suggest UHT milk can cause these age-related diseases ." Professor Carver said milk proteins changed structurally when heated briefly to around 14...

A crew of College of Pennsylvania neuroscientists confirmed for the primary time stimulation delivered when reminiscence is predicted to fail can enhance reminiscence perform within the human mind. Right here, the blue dots point out total electrode placement; the yellow dot (top-right nook) signifies the electrode used to stimulate the topic's mind to extend reminiscence efficiency. Credit score: Picture courtesy of College of Pennsylvania A crew of neuroscientists on the College of Pennsylvania has proven for the primary time stimulation delivered when reminiscence is predicted to fail can enhance reminiscence perform within the human mind. That very same stimulation typically turns into disruptive when electrical pulses arrive during times of efficient reminiscence perform. The analysis crew included Michael Kahana, professor of psychology and principal investigator of the Protection Superior ...