Today’s Solutions: March 29, 2024

Phase transition allows water vapor to condense into dew drops. This process is also what allows brain cells to constantly reorganize their inner machinery. In people with ALS and Alzheimer’s, this process is interrupted. This connection between physics and disease could provide vital clues for treatment. 

In neurodegenerative diseases, phase transitions in neurons appear to be interrupted, as if the environment has become sticky, preventing free movement. The result of this restricted movement is reduced cell function and a buildup of toxins which lead to diseases such as dementia. 

Clifford Brangwynne, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Princeton University, helped make the neural discovery. Brangwynne made the decision to look into genetic factors of degenerative diseases when he treated a case that appeared to be a combination of Alzheimer’s and ALS. The simultaneous symptoms indicated a genetic root of the issue. 

Brangwynne’s lab demonstrated that experimental drugs and genetic tweaks can be used to unstick these molecules, pushing biotech companies to take a new approach to treatment options. He expects new therapies to be available in the coming years which address phase transition malfunctions in neurons. 

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

NaviLens: championing inclusive urban transport for the blind and visually im...

Every journey in the fast-paced urban transportation world presents its own obstacles. For people with visual impairments, riding public transit might feel like starting ...

Read More

A positive guide to navigating climate chaos

Maintaining hope in the face of the climate crisis is more than simply a psychological exercise; it is essential for motivating action and behavioral ...

Read More

8 benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning

Even if your morning routine is already jam-packed, we have one tiny thing we suggest you add to that routine: drinking a cup of ...

Read More

Study: Exercise after vaccination may boost immunity

If you thought it was better to take it easy after getting your vaccine, you may want to think again. In a new study ...

Read More