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The research suggests that in mice with Alzheimer's disease certain immune cells that normally protect the brain begin abnormally to consume an important nutrient called arginine. By blocking this process using the drug difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), memory loss and a buildup of sticky proteins known as brain plaques were prevented.

By then, researchers had identified three genetic mutations that can be inherited and, if they are, cause a form of Alzheimer's called early onset because it strikes before age 65 and sometimes far earlier. Since 2004, Hornstein and all five of her siblings have been tested. Hornstein is the only one who doesn't carry PSEN1, one of the mutations.

Highlighting role of animal research in human health.  A visually appealing website with an array of research summaries.

Lesson plans from a 5 day summer workshop through the CDC

In the war against aging, Alzheimer's disease is one of our biggest foes. But while we seem to be losing the battle, we may finally have found some chinks in its armor. The most common form of dementia already affects an estimated 5.2 million Americans and 45 million others worldwide, and these numbers are projected to triple by the year 2050 as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement.

Blood type may affect brain function as we age, according to a new large, long-term study. People with the rare AB blood type, present in less than 10 percent of the population, have a higher than usual risk of cognitive problems as they age.

These case studies heralded a new appreciation for the phenomenon of genetic chimerism-when an individual carries two or more genetically distinct cell lines in different parts of her body. Until the advent of techniques for blood typing and karyotyping cells, genetic chimeras where thought to be very rare. They only came to light when the phenotypes associated with the two distinct genomes were so discordant that the resulting individual was clearly exceptional, with patches of distinct skin coloration throughout the body, for example, or hermaphroditic genitals. In reality, genetic chimeras may be quite common, disguised in perfectly normal bodies harboring genetically distinct cell lineages.

This index organizes teaching resources by topic-related issue and provides teaching resources (case studies, problems, videos, articles, activities, and other resources) which can be used to to facilitate the teaching of introductory non-majors biology using Problem or Case Studies Based Learning.