Rebecca Armbruster, DO, MS, FACOI: Chief Medical Officer | Jeanes Hospital
Rebecca Armbruster, DO, MS, FACOI: Chief Medical Officer | Jeanes Hospital
Research led by Dr. Gareth Thomas at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine has uncovered a promising approach to protect neurons from degeneration. The study, which appears in the journal Nature Communications, focuses on the enzyme dual leucine-zipper kinase (DLK). This enzyme is a crucial player in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, which involve the progressive loss of neurons.
Dr. Thomas, an Associate Professor of Neural Sciences, and his team at the Center for Neural Development and Repair have identified a method to specifically block DLK in damaged neurons while keeping its functionality intact in healthy neurons. The study has the potential to change the course of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
“Medical Xpress, Bioengineer.org and Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News highlighted the research.” The findings come at a crucial time since the incidence of these conditions is expected to double by 2040.
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