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From cognitive degeneration to cognitive enhancement, the speakers for this night will tour you through the spectrum of things that can affect your thinking. Come discover the mechanisms behind the highs and lows of brain function.
Amyloid diseases: the quest for the cure
Dr Nicolas Guthertz
(Post Doctoral Researcher in School of Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Amyloid diseases are a great social and economic burden, with ailments such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's becoming more prevalent in an ageing population. There are currently very few effective treatments, so understanding the molecular mechanisms by which they act is crucial in aiding the design of effective drugs and treatments.
Stopping an enzyme could stop aging of the brain
Dr. Steven Clapcote
(Lecturer in Pharmacology)
Dampening down an enzyme - phosphodiesterase 4B - in young adult mice caused enhanced learning and memory. Is this effect the same in old mice? And, if so, could we apply these findings to humans to fix the effects of old age in the brain? This speaker will explain how this enzyme can affect cognition and how this could open the possibility of future research on humans.
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