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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Scientists Discover Molecule That Blocks Aging And Dementia in Mice
Scientists are looking at ways to tackle Alzheimer's and dementia from all kinds of angles, and a new study has identified the molecule hevin (or SPARCL-1) as a potential way of preventing cognitive decline. Hevin is a protein naturally produced in the brain by cells called astrocytes. These support-worker cells look after the connections or synapses between neurons, and it's thought that hevin plays a role in this essential work. In this new study, researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the University of São Paulo in Brazil boosted hevin production in the brains of both healthy mice and those with an Alzheimer's-like disease. That hevin overload worked wonders: over six months of testing, the treated mice demonstrated better memory and learning capability than untreated animals, while brain scans showed improved neuron communication across synapses. "Hevin is a well-known molecule involved in neural plasticity," says neurobiologist Flávia Alcantara Gomes from UFRJ. "We found that the overproduction of hevin is capable of reversing cognitive deficits in aged animals by improving the quality of synapses in these rodents." Further analysis showed that the additional hevin in the mouse brains was triggering the production of other proteins related to synapse health. It seems hevin isn't working alone when it comes to maintaining neuron connectivity. The research team also looked at the wider context, digging into publicly available health data to find that hevin levels in the brains of Alzheimer's patients were lower than normal. That suggests hevin and astrocytes do have a role to play in the disease. "The originality lies in understanding the role of the astrocyte in this process," says Gomes. "We've taken the focus away from neurons, shedding light on the role of astrocytes, which we've shown could also be a target for new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment." It will take a significant amount of time to go from lab tests in mice to actual treatments that people with dementia are able to take, of course, but it's a promising start – and eventually, treatments based on these findings could complement other drugs. Many of the treatments currently being explored for Alzheimer's look to tackle the toxic protein clumps that build up in the brain, but those protein bundles aren't targeted by hevin. In fact, the new research showed hevin had no impact on plaque build-up, which could support the emerging idea that they aren't a 'cause'. "Although there's still no consensus among researchers, I work with the hypothesis that the formation of beta-amyloid plaques isn't the cause of Alzheimer's," says Felipe Cabral-Miranda, biomedical scientist at UFRJ. "And the results of the study, by providing proof of concept for a molecule that can reverse cognitive decline without affecting beta-amyloid plaques, support the hypothesis that these, although involved in the mechanisms of the pathology, aren't enough to cause Alzheimer's." It's a complex picture, and while we're still not sure how Alzheimer's disease gets started in the brain, it's probable that numerous factors are involved. That means any potential treatment or prevention is going to need to be complex as well. "Of course, in the future it'll be possible to develop drugs that have the same effect as hevin," says Gomes. "For now, however, the fundamental benefit of this work is a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and the aging process." The research has been published in Aging Cell. Your Coffee May Not Even Need Caffeine to Wake You Up Your Stress Could Be a Hidden Trigger For Future Dementia Over 2 Million Americans Went 'Missing' During 2020 And 2021
The Star
20-05-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Where the rain brings fear
ARMED with brushes and paint, volunteers touch up houses left standing after devastating floods last year that killed nearly 200 people and displaced half a million in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. As residents continue to repair damage a year after Rio Grande do Sul's worst- ever natural calamity, they worry that not enough is being done to buttress the city against another such catastrophe, which experts say is made ever more likely by climate change. In late April and early May 2024, three months' worth of rain fell on the wealthy state, of which Porto Alegre is the capital, in just 10 days. The brunt of the deluge was felt in the city of 1.3 million people located on the shores of Lake Guaiba, which is fed by four rivers. Scientists of the World Weather Attribution later concluded that climate change had doubled the likelihood of the 'extremely rare event' – the kind expected to occur only once every 100 to 250 years. View of houses painted by artists from the Paredes com Proposito (Purposeful Walls) project at the Menino Deus neighbourhood in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. — AFP With recovery work still under way, another storm hit the city in March – less severe this time, but again flooding roads, felling trees and knocking out power. 'Nowadays, the rain brings fear and insecurity,' said Jotape Pax, a Porto Alegre resident and urban artist behind the volunteer restoration project. When last year's mega-storm hit, Porto Alegre was reliant on a faulty barrier of walls and dykes that had been designed in the 1960s. Due to poor maintenance, the walls were cracked and the gates were held up with sandbags, according to Mima Feltrin, a flood specialist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Of the 23 water drainage pumps, 19 failed during the floods, she said. A year later, only two have been fixed. 'It's very worrying because, so far, what we've seen are mostly emergency measures,' said Feltrin, pointing to 'a major gap' in infrastructure reinforcement. The UN Environment Programme says developing countries will need as much as US$387bil per year by 2030 for projects to adapt to unavoidable climate change, including building sea walls and planting drought-resistant crops. Poli, a resident of the Sarandi neighbourhood, speaking during an interview in Porto Alegre. — AFP In 2020, only US$28bil had been forthcoming. Last year, a report by the Climate Policy Initiative, a research NGO, found that Brazil was spending about US$2.7bil per year to prepare for worsening floods and droughts – not nearly enough, according to experts. The Institute of Hydraulic Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul concluded in a study last December that many deaths in Porto Alegre could have been prevented with an early alert and evacuation system. In a multi-million dollar lawsuit, the municipality stands accused of 'omissions' that led to flood protection system failures, according to the prosecutor's office. Mayor Sebastiao Melo said a climate action plan will be presented to the municipal legislature this year, with provision for an early warning system. The plan also envisions work to reinforce existing dykes and build new ones, the mayor said, while urban drainage systems are already being upgraded. Feltrin said Porto Alegre needs to completely renew its flood containment system, possibly by looking at solutions applied in other low-lying areas such as New York and the Netherlands. View of the mud-covered Sao Jose neighbourhood following the devastating floods, in Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, last year. — AFP 'It is important to have flood gates, but also parks designed to absorb water,' she said. At Porto Alegre's central market, a plaque recalls the flooding that had completely submerged the historic building. It is bustling once again, and with changes such as furniture made of water-resistant stainless steel rather than wood. 'With climate change, this is going to happen more and more often. It scares us a lot, but we are working to be better prepared,' said Nadja Melo, 45, who runs a market eatery. For others, it has been tougher to bounce back. Aerial view of the flooded surroundings of the public market in downtown Porto Alegre, last year. — AFP In one of Porto Alegre's hardest-hit neighbourhoods, Sarandi, dozens of families have been ordered to leave or risk having their homes flooded again in a high-risk zone. 'It is very difficult to start over,' said Claudir Poli, a 42-year-old with two prosthetic legs, a wife and three children, complaining that aid funding is not enough to rehouse his family. — AFP > This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Still reeling a year on, Brazil's Porto Alegre fears next flood
Armed with brushes and paint, volunteers touch up houses left standing after devastating floods last year that killed nearly 200 people and displaced half a million in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. As residents continue to repair damage nearly 12 months after Rio Grande do Sul's worst-ever natural calamity, they worry not enough is being done to buttress the city against another such catastrophe, which experts say is made ever more likely by climate change. In late April and early May 2024, three months' worth of rain fell on the wealthy state, of which Porto Alegre is the capital, in just 10 days. The brunt of the deluge was felt in the city of 1.3 million people located on the shores of Lake Guaiba, which is fed by four rivers. Scientists of the World Weather Attribution later concluded climate change had doubled the likelihood of the "extremely rare event" -- the kind expected to occur only once every 100 to 250 years. With recovery work still underway, another storm hit the city last month -- less severe this time, but again flooding roads, felling trees and knocking out power. "Nowadays, the rain brings fear and insecurity," said Jotape Pax, a Porto Alegre resident and urban artist behind the volunteer restoration project. - 'Very worrying' - When last year's mega-storm hit, Porto Alegre was reliant on a faulty barrier of walls and dikes that had been designed in the 1960s. Due to poor maintenance, the walls were cracked and the gates were held up with sand bags, according to Mima Feltrin, a flood specialist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Of the 23 water drainage pumps, 19 failed during the floods, she told AFP. A year later, only two have been fixed. "It's very worrying because, so far, what we've seen are mostly emergency measures," said Feltrin, pointing to "a major gap" in infrastructure reinforcement. The UN Environment Programme says developing countries will need as much as $387 billion per year by 2030 for projects to adapt to unavoidable climate change, including building sea walls and planting drought resistant crops. In 2020, only $28 billion had been forthcoming. Last year, a report by the Climate Policy Initiative, a research NGO, found Brazil was spending about $2.7 billion per year to prepare for worsening floods and droughts -- not nearly enough, according to experts. - 'Omissions' - The Institute of Hydraulic Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul concluded in a study last December that many deaths in Porto Alegre could have been prevented with an early alert and evacuation system. In a multi-million dollar lawsuit, the municipality stands accused of "omissions" that led to flood protection system failures, according to the prosecutor's office. Mayor Sebastiao Melo said a climate action plan will be presented to the municipal legislature this year, with provision for an early warning system. The plan also envisions work to reinforce existing dikes and build new ones, the mayor told AFP, while urban drainage systems are already being upgraded. - 'Better prepared' - Feltrin said Porto Alegre needs to completely renew its flood containment system, possibly by looking at solutions applied in other low-lying areas such as New York and the Netherlands. "It is important to have flood gates, but also parks designed to absorb water," she said. At Porto Alegre's central market, a plaque recalls the flooding that had completely submerged the historic building. It is bustling once again, and with changes such as furniture made of water-resistant stainless steel rather than wood. "With climate change, this is going to happen more and more often. It scares us a lot, but we are working to be better prepared," said Nadja Melo, 45, who runs a market eatery. For others, it has been tougher to bounce back. In one of Porto Alegre's hardest-hit neighborhoods, Sarandi, dozens of families have been ordered to leave or risk having their homes flooded again in a high-risk zone. "It is very difficult to start over," said Claudir Poli, a 42-year-old with two prosthetic legs, a wife and three children, complaining that aid funding is not enough to rehouse his family. AFP is publishing this story to coincide with Covering Climate Now's 89 Percent Project, which aims to highlight that the majority of people in the world want to see stronger climate action. ll-rsr/app/mlr/cb/sla/rsc
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Still reeling a year on, Brazil's Porto Alegre fears next flood
PORTO ALEGRE: Armed with brushes and paint, volunteers touch up houses left standing after devastating floods last year that killed nearly 200 people and displaced half a million in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As residents continue to repair damage nearly 12 months after Rio Grande do Sul's worst-ever natural calamity, they worry not enough is being done to buttress the city against another such catastrophe, which experts say is made ever more likely by climate change. In late April and early May 2024, three months' worth of rain fell on the wealthy state, of which Porto Alegre is the capital, in just 10 days. The brunt of the deluge was felt in the city of 1.3 million people located on the shores of Lake Guaiba, which is fed by four rivers. Scientists of the World Weather Attribution later concluded climate change had doubled the likelihood of the "extremely rare event" -- the kind expected to occur only once every 100 to 250 years. With recovery work still underway, another storm hit the city last month -- less severe this time, but again flooding roads, felling trees and knocking out power. "Nowadays, the rain brings fear and insecurity," said Jotape Pax, a Porto Alegre resident and urban artist behind the volunteer restoration project. 'Very worrying' When last year's mega-storm hit, Porto Alegre was reliant on a faulty barrier of walls and dikes that had been designed in the 1960s. Due to poor maintenance, the walls were cracked and the gates were held up with sand bags, according to Mima Feltrin, a flood specialist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Of the 23 water drainage pumps, 19 failed during the floods, she told AFP. A year later, only two have been fixed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "It's very worrying because, so far, what we've seen are mostly emergency measures," said Feltrin, pointing to "a major gap" in infrastructure reinforcement. The UN Environment Programme says developing countries will need as much as $387 billion per year by 2030 for projects to adapt to unavoidable climate change, including building sea walls and planting drought resistant crops. In 2020, only $28 billion had been forthcoming. Last year, a report by the Climate Policy Initiative, a research NGO, found Brazil was spending about $2.7 billion per year to prepare for worsening floods and droughts -- not nearly enough, according to experts. 'Omissions' The Institute of Hydraulic Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul concluded in a study last December that many deaths in Porto Alegre could have been prevented with an early alert and evacuation system. In a multi-million dollar lawsuit, the municipality stands accused of "omissions" that led to flood protection system failures, according to the prosecutor's office. Mayor Sebastiao Melo said a climate action plan will be presented to the municipal legislature this year, with provision for an early warning system. The plan also envisions work to reinforce existing dikes and build new ones, the mayor told AFP, while urban drainage systems are already being upgraded. 'Better prepared' Feltrin said Porto Alegre needs to completely renew its flood containment system, possibly by looking at solutions applied in other low-lying areas such as New York and the Netherlands. "It is important to have flood gates, but also parks designed to absorb water," she said. At Porto Alegre's central market, a plaque recalls the flooding that had completely submerged the historic building. It is bustling once again, and with changes such as furniture made of water-resistant stainless steel rather than wood. "With climate change, this is going to happen more and more often. It scares us a lot, but we are working to be better prepared," said Nadja Melo, 45, who runs a market eatery. For others, it has been tougher to bounce back. In one of Porto Alegre's hardest-hit neighborhoods, Sarandi, dozens of families have been ordered to leave or risk having their homes flooded again in a high-risk zone. "It is very difficult to start over," said Claudir Poli, a 42-year-old with two prosthetic legs, a wife and three children, complaining that aid funding is not enough to rehouse his family. AFP is publishing this story to coincide with Covering Climate Now's 89 Percent Project, which aims to highlight that the majority of people in the world want to see stronger climate action.
