Unhealthy lifestyle choices, poor diet, and aging can have negative influences on cognition, gradually increasing the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the continuum comprising early dementia. Aging is the greatest risk factor for age-related dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, and the aging process is known to be influenced by life events that can positively or negatively affect age-related diseases. Remarkably, life experiences that make the brain vulnerable to dementia, such as seizure episodes, neurotoxin exposures, metabolic disorders, and trauma-inducing events (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control
April 2022
In this work, a compact model is presented for a 14-nm CMOS-based fin resonant body transistor (fRBT) operating at a frequency of 11.8 GHz and targeting radio frequency (RF) generation/filtering for next-generation radio communication, clocking, and sensing applications. Analysis of the phononic dispersion characteristics of the device, which informs the model development, shows the presence of displacement component coupling due to the periodic nature of the back-end-of-line (BEOL) metal phononic crystal (PnC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExcitotoxic events underlying ischaemic and traumatic brain injuries activate degenerative and protective pathways, particularly in the hippocampus. To understand opposing pathways that determine the brain's response to excitotoxicity, we used hippocampal explants, thereby eliminating systemic variables during a precise protocol of excitatory stimulation. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) was applied for 20 min and total RNA isolated one and 24 h later for neurobiology-specific microarrays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExplosive shockwaves, and other types of blast exposures, are linked to injuries commonly associated with military service and to an increased risk for the onset of dementia. Neurological complications following a blast injury, including depression, anxiety, and memory problems, often persist even when brain damage is undetectable. Here, hippocampal explants were exposed to the explosive 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) to identify indicators of blast-induced changes within important neuronal circuitries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) resulting from granulin (GRN) haploinsufficiency have reduced levels of progranulin and exhibit dysregulation in inflammatory and lysosomal networks. Microglia produce high levels of progranulin, and reduction of progranulin in microglia alone is sufficient to recapitulate inflammation, lysosomal dysfunction, and hyperproliferation in a cell-autonomous manner. Therefore, targeting microglial dysfunction caused by progranulin insufficiency represents a potential therapeutic strategy to manage neurodegeneration in FTD.
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