Dementia

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© 2006 The Associated Press E-mail This Article iAlert School closings ...

...ba href=/dementia/a/b of Alzheimer's disease now appears to play an even bigger role in safeguarding against the disease, bringing the promise of new targets for drug therapies.While scientists already knew that the enzyme known as Pin1 can prevent the tangles of knotlike brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's, new research, published in the March 23 issue of Nature, finds the enzyme also plays a pivotal role in guarding against a second type of lesion, the buildup of plaque, or flat deposits on the surface of brain cells.

Alzheimer's is caused by the two types of lesions, or alterations in brain tissue, occurring simultaneously.Researchers at Cornell University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School authored the study."The new finding provides a very specific molecular interaction that can be used as a target in drug discovery," said Linda Nicholson, co-principal investigator on the study and a Cornell associate professor of molecular biology and genetics.Nicholson and her Cornell team observed Pin1 acting on a protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP), which appears to be the primary cause of Alzheimer's.

When APP gets a phosphate group attached to its tail (a process called phosphorylation), it toggles slowly back and forth between two forms.

Like a kind of molecular Dr.

Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde, one form leads to buildup of plaque and disease, while the other form is part of normal function and helps neurons grow and survive.Using a powerful micros...

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She can only speculate that in a confused state he may have been lost, asked for directions to Troy and been guided to Troy, Ore.

Nickerson's Jeep was found Thursday about 40 miles north of Enterprise.

There were no signs of foul play, and searchers found no tracks or dropped personal items around the vehicle.

"It's a dead end," said Glen McDonald, Wallowa County Search and Rescue incident commander.

It had snowed 12 to 14 inches since Nickerson went missing, McDonald said.

Nickerson, for a hobby, carves walking sticks.

Two were found on a cattle guard pointing to Troy.

That has been the only clue, McDonald said.

Nickerson stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 190 pounds.

He has a shaved head and is thought to be wearing brown pants and a brown shirt.

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