Cell research may benefit Huntington's and Alzheimer's patients

A specific type of cellular stress has been linked to the death of cells in the brain associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's.

Research by scientists at RIKEN used calcium imaging techniques to investigate the association between endoplasmic reticulum ER stress and neuronal protein IP3R1.

The ER plays a major role in maintaining protein quality in the cell and conditions that affect this cause it stress, which can trigger the cell death associated with Huntington's and Alzheimer's.

Scientists indentified a mechanism involved the process that leads to ER stress inhabiting the activation of the IP3R1 protein.

This was the first research to underline the important role of the protein in protecting the brain from this type of stress, and is hoped to advance treatment of such neurodegenerative conditions.

Meanwhile, a study published in the Lancet Neurology found that a new range of tests could predict the onset of Huntington's disease before noticeable symptoms appear.

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