Human brains (and the brains of other vertebrates) are able to process information faster because of myelin, a fatty substance that forms a protective sheath over the axons of our nerve cells and ...

The disruption of axons—the thread-like part of nerve cells that transmits electrical signals—is associated with Alzheimer's disease. One way axonal function may be hindered is through damage to the ...

Each year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), millions of people in the U.S. are affected by spinal cord ...

How well our brain functions depends heavily on the performance of our nerve cells. That is why they are regularly checked for their proper function -- defective cell components are marked, disposed ...

Age-related changes in protein tagging and degradation may help explain how the brain declines over time and why diet can still influence these processes.

The Institute’s president and molecular biologist is captivated by solving the mysteries behind the aging process and the extended lifespan of humans. Hetzer is fascinated by the biological puzzles ...

When the longest cells in the body are injured at their farthest reaches, coordinating the cells’ repair is no easy task. This is in part because these peripheral nerve cells can be extremely long – ...

In Alzheimer's, brain cells die too soon. In cancer, dangerous cells don't die soon enough. That's because both diseases alter the way cells decide when to end their lives, a process called programmed ...

A protein secreted by deadly tumour cells could be a powerful weapon against Alzheimer’s disease, Chinese researchers have found. While Alzheimer’s disease and cancer are common in ageing populations ...

Most human nerve cells last a lifetime without renewal. A trait echoed within the cells' components, some enduring as long as the organism itself. Most human nerve cells last a lifetime without ...