neurodegeneration

January 6, 2023

Early effects of Huntington disease

Impairments in brain executive function happen earlier than motor symptoms in people with the gene mutation that causes Huntington disease, suggesting younger ages and cognitive symptoms be considered for any future clinical trials.

By Kelsey Pinckard
silhouette of three men with guns
October 5, 2021

Breaking bad with Huntington’s disease

Illegal activities are a significant clinical problem in individuals with Huntington’s disease, highlighting the need for improved screening measures and protocols to guide patient management.

By Paul Govern
June 17, 2021

New neurodegeneration culprit

A young woman with a puzzling neurological illness and novel genetic variant pointed investigators to a role for dysregulated protein kinase D1 in neurodegeneration.

By Paul Govern
The team studying the regulation of innate immune response includes (front row, from left) Yang Zhao, Antiana Richardson, (back row, from left) John Karijolich, PhD, Xiang Ye and William Dunker.
May 6, 2021

Study finds that regulatory protein prevents signaling that triggers cell death

A protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis prevents the activation of an innate immune response that leads to cell death, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 20, 2020

Study points to potential new approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have shown for the first time that when one optic nerve in the eye is damaged, as in glaucoma, the opposite optic nerve comes to the rescue by sharing its metabolic energy.

By Bill Snyder
February 14, 2019

The yin and yang of cell signaling

Larry Marnett and colleagues have explored the role of two enzymes in metabolizing molecules associated with cell proliferation, inflammatory processes and neurological diseases.

By Sanjay Mishra
August 23, 2018

Enzyme helps build motor that drives neuron death

Vanderbilt scientists have discovered a signaling mechanism that tells neurons to die, findings that could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
By VUMC News and Communications
August 12, 2016

New culprit in nerve degeneration

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that regulation of cell volume plays a role in nerve degeneration and peripheral neuropathies.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 14, 2015

Insights on lysosomal storage diseases

A novel mechanism could point to new therapies for a group of inherited diseases that share pathological features.
By Leigh MacMillan
December 16, 2014

Retinal neuron survival in glaucoma

Understanding how the protein TRPV1 helps neurons survive after glaucoma-related stressors could lead to new therapeutic strategies for glaucoma and other neurodegenerative conditions.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 26, 2014

New tools to probe manganese biology

Vanderbilt researchers have developed tools to probe the role of the essential metal manganese in neurons, and which offer a started point for developing therapeutic agents for manganese-related neurological disorders.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 2, 2014

Protein interaction protects against neurodegeneration

Two proteins interact to maintain selenium levels in the brain, and protect neurons from degeneration.
By VUMC News and Communications
March 14, 2014

Protein boosts retinal neuron survival

An ion channel protein called TRIPV1 helps retinal neurons survive the elevated eye pressure associated with glaucoma.
By Leigh MacMillan
1 2