Cell response to pressure 'could help dementia drug development'
23/8/2010
American researchers have made a discovery that could help to screen drugs for the treatment of dementia.
Scientists at the University of California Davis used a cutting-edge microscope to test how a form of amyloid protein, the compound found to be a root cause of Alzheimer's disease, responded to pressure.
It was established that this particular substance stiffens and becomes less flexible when subjected to physical force, indicating that the cell's membrane function has been damaged.
"This is a simple method for measuring the stiffness of a cell - like pushing down on a spring," said lead researcher Professor Gang-Yu Liu.
Using this method, Professor Liu predicts that drug companies will be able to easily identify how a particular drug is affecting the development of the disease in brain cells.
Scientists from Norway recently learned that moderate alcohol consumption can actually maintain cognitive function for longer and prevent the development of dementia.