ALZHEIMER

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases... Researchers pioneer technique to test how changes in brain activity may produce autism symptoms. Researchers altered the social behavior of mice by using light to manipulate electrical activity in a brain region involved in learning and socializing. The study, published this fall in Nature, bolsters the theory that autism may stem from an imbalance in the natural signals that excite or dampen activity within the brain. The study also offers a new approach to creating animal models of autism-crucial for testing promising medicines that might relieve disabling symptoms.

Also known as: Alzheimer's Disease