3/29/2010 PERMALINK
Scientists reverse Alzheimer's-like memory loss in fruit flies. By blocking the cellular signaling activity of a protein, a team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has prevented memory loss in fruit flies caused by brain plaques similar to those thought to cause Alzheimer's disease in humans. The study also resolves a long-standing controversy about the role of this protein, PI3 kinase, which was previously thought to have a protective function against the disease. 'Our work suggests that the peptides, or fragments, of beta-amyloid associated with Alzheimer's disease directly increase the activity of PI3 kinase, which in turn causes memory loss and increases the accumulation of plaque in the brain,' explains CSHL Professor Yi Zhong, who led the research team.