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Thread: Memory medicine

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    Memory medicine

    A new drug test claims to have an effect on memory, making it a potential Alzheimers' treatment, among other things:

    http://www.vancouversun.com/news/nat...583/story.html

    Discovery could lead memory-enhancing pill out of realm of science fiction

    Researchers found that when PKR is genetically suppressed in mice, another immune molecule, called gamma interferon, increases communication between neurons, improving memory and making brain function more efficient, Costa-Mattioli said.

    "If we were to find an inhibitor, a molecule, a drug that will specifically block PKR, we should be able to do the same," said Costa-Mattioli. "And we did."
    They go on to say that this could enhance the memories of healthy brains as well. Human trials are still years away.

    Googling found that Protein kinase R is likely the PKR they meant.
    STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary

  2. #2
    Mouse memory is a notoriously bad model for Alzheimer's, I'll bet money that this fails against it.
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  3. #3
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    Don't cook in bare aluminum pans and...... eat more blueberries and blackberries.

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