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“Super memory” pill–and possibly an Alzheimer’s cure–could be around the corner
The Sideshow ^ | December 19, 2011 | Eric Pfeiffer

Posted on 12/19/2011 4:52:53 PM PST by decimon

Scientists have isolated a gene in mice that works to give them "super memories" and reverses the course of several degenerative mental illnesses like Alzheimer's. And because of the similarity of mice and human brains, a powerful brain pill for humans may now not be far off.

The brains of both mice and humans release a gene known as PKR, which is triggered by the onset of Alzheimer's. But the newly discovered gene can apparently block PKR's release--a development that not only can reverse the course of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, but induces a state of "super memory" in the mice it has been tested on.

"If we were to find an inhibitor, a molecule, a drug that will specifically block PKR, we should be able to do the same [in humans]," Maura Costa-Mattioli, who led the research study at Baylor University, told the Vancouver Sun. "And we did."

"We recognize that PKR plays a dual role, one in regulating simple everyday processes like the way neurons talk to each other [for] memory, but also has a stress response," added John Bell, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute who also contributed to the study.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: alzheimers; memorypill; supermemorypill
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1 posted on 12/19/2011 4:52:56 PM PST by decimon
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To: neverdem; DvdMom; grey_whiskers; Ladysmith; Roos_Girl; Silentgypsy; conservative cat; ...

Ping


2 posted on 12/19/2011 4:53:28 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

And this will be the last we ever hear of it.


3 posted on 12/19/2011 4:53:50 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (FOREIGN AID: A transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries)
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To: decimon
There could not possibly be any unintended consequences of these types of drugs...

...at least that's what my pet chimpanzee tells me!


4 posted on 12/19/2011 4:56:50 PM PST by Yossarian ("All the charm of Nixon. All the competency of Carter." - SF Chronicle comment post on Obama)
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To: decimon

Just the other day, I was talking to my wife and ... uh ... the other day my wife and I were chatting about ... er .... umm ... I remember the conversation I had with a lady just .... ahhhhh ... I seem to remember .... or ... no, I don’t.


5 posted on 12/19/2011 4:56:56 PM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: decimon

Reminds me of a very old joke about “smart pills”.


6 posted on 12/19/2011 4:57:18 PM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (Proudly casting a heavy carbon footprint as I clean my guns ---)
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To: decimon

I wish I could forget 0bama, Pelosi, Fwank, Reid, Dodd, etc.


7 posted on 12/19/2011 5:00:27 PM PST by Pamlico (Oppose 0bama at every opportunity)
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To: decimon
The Vancouver Sun article: Discovery could lead memory-enhancing pill out of realm of science fiction
8 posted on 12/19/2011 5:01:26 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

Reminds me of the movie “Limitless”.


9 posted on 12/19/2011 5:01:30 PM PST by isthisnickcool (Sharia? No thanks!)
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To: knarf

CRS Disease? Suffered from it for years now...


10 posted on 12/19/2011 5:08:51 PM PST by donozark (My son is Inmate of the Month at the Taney County Jail...)
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To: knarf

The first symptom of old age that I noticed was a severe decline in my memory and the second symptom was............just wait, it’ll come to me.


11 posted on 12/19/2011 5:12:39 PM PST by RipSawyer (This does not end well!)
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To: donozark

Can’t remember STUFF, right?


12 posted on 12/19/2011 5:13:55 PM PST by RipSawyer (This does not end well!)
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To: isthisnickcool
"Reminds me of the movie “Limitless”. "

took the words out of my mouth. Cool movie, just watched it on Netflix. Funny how it ended. Thought it'd end like 'Charly'

13 posted on 12/19/2011 5:14:16 PM PST by time4good
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To: decimon

This will be good for all those old guys who take Viagra but can’t remember why....


14 posted on 12/19/2011 5:17:19 PM PST by freebilly
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To: RipSawyer

When you get so old you can’t do it anymore, your memory is so bad you actually thought you did it.


15 posted on 12/19/2011 5:19:19 PM PST by umgud
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To: freebilly
This will be good for all those old guys who take Viagra but can’t remember why....

Hope and change?

16 posted on 12/19/2011 5:20:01 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon
The brains of both mice and humans release a gene known as PKR, - does anyone proof read? "brains... release a gene", they have know idea what they are writing about
17 posted on 12/19/2011 5:20:30 PM PST by NativeSon
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To: decimon

“Flowers for Algernon “?


18 posted on 12/19/2011 5:32:09 PM PST by stylin19a (obama - "FREDO" smart)
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To: NativeSon
does anyone proof read? "brains... release a gene", they have know idea what they are writing about

proof read = proofread

know idea = no idea

19 posted on 12/19/2011 5:39:39 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

I am sad to see the posts about this possible breakthrough for Alzheimer’s Disease. Anyone who has ever had a loved one stricken with Alzheimer’s is always hopeful that someday there will be a help! As a family member who has lost a loved one to the disease, I worry about it being hereditary.


20 posted on 12/19/2011 5:39:39 PM PST by kaki
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