Scientists from UT Southwestern Medical Center have recently identified a protein that plays an important role in neurodegeneration. This protein is responsible for cell death in the brain and exacerbates dementia and memory loss in elderly individuals.
The protein is being called AIF3 because it is a variation of the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) protein that has already been known to exist. Normally, this protein helps with mitochondrial function. Once the protein is released, it helps the body kill off cells in a normal and routine manner. However, when this process is changed because of the protein variation, issues can occur. This is known as defective splicing, and is associated with disease, such as those associated with dementia. It disrupted the mitochondrial process and the cell death process.
Modifying the splicing process may have a therapeutic effect on the brain. There is a lot of untapped potential in this line of thought, and researchers are beginning to look at just what this might look like and whether or not it is possible.
Additionally, they found that stroke played a role in the process when it came to healthy production of AIF. Strokes impact about 800,000 U.S. residents each year, resulting in disability, dementia, and death. Someone dies from a stroke once every four minutes, according to the CDC. Stroke has long been recognized as one of the most common causes of dementia, and this study indicates just why this is. Again, much more research is needed in this area, but new information seems to give future research a better course of direction moving forward. When a stroke occurs, the AIF3 protein can have incredibly severe side effects. About 10 percent of people who suffer a stroke develop neurodegeneration within a year. This team believes that AIF3 is one of the primary reasons why this happens.
The research team published their findings in the journal, Molecular Neurodegeneration.
Neurodegeneration, regardless of the cause, can be catastrophic for a family to deal with. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other types of neurodegenerative diseases make it difficult for an individual to function without help. A stroke does the same, especially when physical disability occurs as a result of the stroke. Some families can help an older loved one on their own for extended periods of time, but not many can do this for long. Outside help is often needed.
Your loved one doesn’t need to move into a facility as soon as care is needed in most cases. Oftentimes, in-home care is the perfect solution. It allows your loved one to get the advanced care that they need and stay within their one home.
This isn’t an easy process, but the more information you have, the easier sorting through all of your options will become. If we can be of help, please let us know. One of our caregivers would love to talk more about this with you and your family at no obligation on your end. Hopefully, this can help you to give your loved one the care that they need.
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