Neanderthal DNA surprises in modern humans, the first blood test for Alzheimer’s, a discovery of new human salivary glands, and, oh yeah, a pandemic

Brain cells in older Drosophila tend to have more than two complete sets of chromosomes, and that polyploidy most likely has a protective function, a study shows.

The variant causes a buildup of BACE1 protein in axons in cultured neurons and mice. Researchers say it might be time to rethink failed trials that inhibit BACE1 to treat the neurodegenerative disease.

The test will be a cheaper and more accessible alternative to currently available diagnostic tools, researchers say.

An imaging agent reveals aggregated tau protein in the brain during PET scans and could improve the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly tauopathies.

Looking at the future of neurodegeneration research!

These “coarse-grained” plaques resemble those that clog up the brain’s blood vessels in a different disease, pointing to links between the vascular system and the neurodegenerative disease.

Accumulation of the protein was more likely to be found in the brains of people who slept less well years earlier, according to a new study.

The Salk professor developed the institute’s first neurobiology lab and used it to develop cell lines, describe amyloid β toxicity, and screen for compounds that protect against neurodegeneration.