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Researchers reveal key insights into the brain-related mechanisms of familial Parkinson's disease caused by specific gene mutations.

Clusters of abnormally folded α-synuclein proteins, called seeds, trigger the formation of larger aggregates, leading to neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies. Researchers from Japan have developed a novel assay that can detect α-synuclein seeds in the blood. This new assay is highly sensitive, simple, quick, and can differentiate between synucleinopathies based on structural differences of the amplified seeds. This research was supported by the National Research Program for Neurological Disorders and Mental Health of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AM...

First characterized in Prof. Tadashi Yamamoto's former lab in Japan in 1996, the gene Tob is well known for the role it plays in cancer. Previous research has also indicated that it has a hand in regulating the cell cycle and the body's immune response.

The Tob gene, which was initially discovered in Prof

Discovery could lead to new dementia treatments or even help prevent cognitive decline in the first place, Johns Hopkins researchers say.