Mind Control Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – shaking, rigidity and slowness of movement – are caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that allows signals to travel along nerve channels. As dopamine levels fall, the brain gradually loses control of movement in the body. There is currently no cure but scientists hope that in future it may be possible to replace these nerve cells, known as dopaminergic neurons, by culturing new ones from stem cells in the laboratory and injecting them into the patient’s brain. Experiments are beginning to yield promising results. Embryonic stem cells taken from a mouse are seen here developing into new dopaminergic neurons (stained red), while those stained green have already begun the transition and are known as progenitor cells. Written by Mick Warwicker — Nicole Gennet MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
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Mind Control

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – shaking, rigidity and slowness of movement – are caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that allows signals to travel along nerve channels. As dopamine levels fall, the brain gradually loses control of movement in the body. There is currently no cure but scientists hope that in future it may be possible to replace these nerve cells, known as dopaminergic neurons, by culturing new ones from stem cells in the laboratory and injecting them into the patient’s brain. Experiments are beginning to yield promising results. Embryonic stem cells taken from a mouse are seen here developing into new dopaminergic neurons (stained red), while those stained green have already begun the transition and are known as progenitor cells.

Written by Mick Warwicker

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Give Voice British Prime Minister, Disraeli observed: “There is no greater index of character so sure as the voice”. Now new research suggests that how we speak could divulge even more about us than how sincere or confident we are. Parkinson’s disease gradually degenerates cells of the central nervous system affecting a wide range of body functions. Yet it can be difficult to diagnose. A voice disorder may be one of the earliest signs as the disease strikes the vocal cords (healthy ones pictured; paired whitish strips centre). Effects on speech include reduced loudness, increased vocal tremor, and breathiness. By applying computer algorithms to analyse voice recordings, researchers have identified sound patterns that look promising for distinguishing patients with early Parkinson’s. To increase the power of their analysis, the team wants to hear more voices with and without the disease. By phoning-in anonymously to say “aaaah”, everyone can participate in biomedical research. Written by Lindsey Goff — Originally published under Creative Commons (CC-BY-SA 3.0), Courtesy of Welleschik Research published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
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Give Voice

British Prime Minister, Disraeli observed: “There is no greater index of character so sure as the voice”. Now new research suggests that how we speak could divulge even more about us than how sincere or confident we are. Parkinson’s disease gradually degenerates cells of the central nervous system affecting a wide range of body functions. Yet it can be difficult to diagnose. A voice disorder may be one of the earliest signs as the disease strikes the vocal cords (healthy ones pictured; paired whitish strips centre). Effects on speech include reduced loudness, increased vocal tremor, and breathiness. By applying computer algorithms to analyse voice recordings, researchers have identified sound patterns that look promising for distinguishing patients with early Parkinson’s. To increase the power of their analysis, the team wants to hear more voices with and without the disease. By phoning-in anonymously to say “aaaah”, everyone can participate in biomedical research.

Written by Lindsey Goff

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Taken to Heart Stem cells are the body’s ultimate transformers. They can be coaxed to become brain cells for treating diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, or pancreatic cells for treating diabetes. Now researchers have isolated them from a heart patient’s skin and steered them in the lab to become healthy heart muscle (shown in pink). The large rounded shapes among the muscle cells pictured are mitochondria [the cell’s power stations], which fuel this restless tissue. Using a patient’s own stem cells to make new heart cells means there would be no risk of rejection. Scientists tested the effectiveness of the lab-grown cells in a rat and found they make connections with surrounding cardiac tissue; what’s more they can beat. With heart failure on the increase in the UK as the ageing population grows this procedure holds promise for an effective cure in the future. Written by Jessica Langley-Hunt — Copyright Science Photo Library Any re-use of this image must be authorised by Science Photo Library
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Taken to Heart

Stem cells are the body’s ultimate transformers. They can be coaxed to become brain cells for treating diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, or pancreatic cells for treating diabetes. Now researchers have isolated them from a heart patient’s skin and steered them in the lab to become healthy heart muscle (shown in pink). The large rounded shapes among the muscle cells pictured are mitochondria [the cell’s power stations], which fuel this restless tissue. Using a patient’s own stem cells to make new heart cells means there would be no risk of rejection. Scientists tested the effectiveness of the lab-grown cells in a rat and found they make connections with surrounding cardiac tissue; what’s more they can beat. With heart failure on the increase in the UK as the ageing population grows this procedure holds promise for an effective cure in the future.

Written by Jessica Langley-Hunt

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk

Ageing Flies Flies, like humans, can show signs of brain degeneration as they reach old age. Affected insects possess gene mutations, which lead to shaking and difficulty walking as brain function is lost. By looking for early warning signs in the brains of these insects, scientists hope to improve early detection of human neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s. However, flies’ brains are delicate, and the traditional way of imaging them - preparing thin slices of the organ to view under a microscope – is laborious and requires great precision. Scientists have found a neat way to overcome this. By simply bleaching the fly’s dark pigmentation they can take images through the intact head (shown above) to the brain underneath. Written by Manisha Lalloo — Mary O’Connell Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, UK Originally published under Creative Commons (CC-BY 2.0) Published in PLoS One
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Ageing Flies

Flies, like humans, can show signs of brain degeneration as they reach old age. Affected insects possess gene mutations, which lead to shaking and difficulty walking as brain function is lost. By looking for early warning signs in the brains of these insects, scientists hope to improve early detection of human neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s. However, flies’ brains are delicate, and the traditional way of imaging them - preparing thin slices of the organ to view under a microscope – is laborious and requires great precision. Scientists have found a neat way to overcome this. By simply bleaching the fly’s dark pigmentation they can take images through the intact head (shown above) to the brain underneath.

Written by Manisha Lalloo

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Source: bpod.mrc.ac.uk