Shining Light on the Cause of Alzheimer's Disease (411th Brookhaven Lecture)
- NSLS
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, communicate and carry out daily activities. An estimated 4.5 million Americans have it, a number that is expected to triple over the next 50 years. Today, one in ten people aged 65 and half of people over 85 are affected. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is thought to involve the formation of “plaques” — tiny aggregates of a naturally occurring, but misfolded or misshapen protein — in the brain. Recently, the formation of these plaques has been associated with the binding of metal ions such as iron, copper, and zinc. Yet the function of these metal ions and the misfolded proteins in the disease process is not well understood. Now, synchrotron infrared and x-ray microscopes are used to image the protein structure and metal content in the Alzheimer’s-affected brain tissue, providing a better understanding of how the disease occurs and potential ways of preventing it in the future.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 1002664
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-83188-2006-CP; TRN: US201117%%414
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Brookhaven Lecture Series 1960 to the Present, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, presented on January 18, 2006
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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