It is predicted that the prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease in Australia will jump from 200,000 sufferers to over 730,000 by 2050*. Such an alarming sum is hoped to be diminished by the researchers at the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
This research institution have taken particular interest in the protein-forming gene which creates a protein called Neuroglobin and have conducted a study upon 56 different samples of human brain tissue- 26 of which had no indications of brain disease and 30 which had confirmed Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found that as the brain increased in age, levels of this protein Neuroglobin produced in the brain decreased, however, "An intriguing part of this study was the high levels of neuroglobin that we found in the Alzheimer's brain, which was exactly the opposite from what we expected," (Dimitrios Avramopoulos, M.D., Ph.D.). It was discovered that there were in fact higher levels of neuroglobin in the brain of the Alzheimer’s sufferers than that of the control group indicating that the production of neuroglobin was involved in a protection function. Mice were tested and it was found that when their brains were put under stress (i.e. lack of oxygen) their levels of neuroglobin would rise as a result of this naturally occurring protection function.
The scientists deduced that various human brains lack the capability to produce sufficient levels of this protein to fight the invasion of Alzheimer’s disease. This was a considerate step in the research world and the McKusick-Nathans Institute endeavors to continue to delve into the possible prevention and cure methods that this protein neuroglobin has the potential to offer, "Further work on this gene will likely provide intervention targets for a multitude of very common conditions including Alzheimer's." (Avramopoulos).
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149123.php
* The National Health and Medical Research Council Network for Brain Research into Mental Health.
