Author: Tom Patriot

Alzheimer’s Drug Turns Back Clock In The Powerhouse Of Cells

Tom Patriot

The experimental drug J147 is something of a modern elixir of life; it’s been shown to treat Alzheimer’s disease and reverse aging in mice and is almost ready for clinical trials in humans. Now, Salk scientists have solved the puzzle of what, exactly, J147 does. In a paper published January 7, 2018, in the journal Aging Cell, they report that the drug binds to a protein found in mitochondria, the energy-generating powerhouses of cells. In turn, they showed, it makes aging cells, mice and flies appear more youthful. “This really…

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Blind in the Mind: Why Some People Can’t See Pictures in their Imagination

Tom Patriot

Imagine an apple floating in front of you. Now see if you can rotate it around in your mind. Look at it from the top, bottom – does it have any blemishes? How clearly can you see it? Some people see the apple perfectly, like watching a movie, while others have a very poor wavering image. Although it might be hard to believe, a small proportion of otherwise healthy people report having no visual experience at all. In other words, their minds are completely blind – no matter how hard…

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Blanca Blanco Responds to Criticism for Wearing Red to Golden Globes: ‘The Issue Is Bigger Than My Dress Color’

Tom Patriot

On Sunday evening, celebrities — including presenters and nominees — wore all-black dresses and outfits at the 2018 Golden Globes as a symbol of protest against harassment in Hollywood. “This is a moment of solidarity, not a fashion moment,” said Eva Longoria, adding, “For years, we’ve sold these awards shows as women, with our gowns and colors and our beautiful faces and our glamour. This time the industry can’t expect us to go up and twirl around. That’s not what this moment is about.” While most stars dressed in black, some celebrities…

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Diabetes Drug ‘Significantly Reverses Memory Loss’ In Mice With Alzheimer’s

Tom Patriot

A drug developed for diabetes could be used to treat Alzheimer’s after scientists found it “significantly reversed memory loss” in mice through a triple method of action. The research, published in Brain Research, could bring substantial improvements in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease through the use of a drug originally created to treat type 2 diabetes. Lead researcher Professor Christian Holscher of Lancaster University in the UK said the novel treatment “holds clear promise of being developed into a new treatment for chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.” Alzheimer’s disease…

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The Sixth Taste?

Tom Patriot

Calcium is something of a double-edged sword. Too much of the essential element is as dangerous as too little, either case adversely affecting health in animals from humans to mice to fruit flies. Sensing calcium at all can be crucial. Though it doesn’t fit into the five established tastes the tongue’s receptors can identify — sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory (umami) — humans can taste it, and describe it as slightly bitter and sour. New research conducted by scientists at UC Santa Barbara and colleagues in Korea has established…

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