Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Sandra Almeida"
- Sandra Almeida's recent research primarily focuses on the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), particularly the role of genetic mutations and cellular interactions in disease pathology.
- Key findings indicate that the loss of the TDP-43 protein function contributes to genomic instability, while the exocyst subunit EXOC2 is critical in regulating the toxicity associated with GGGGCC repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene.
- Almeida's studies also highlight the toxic effects of astrocytes in the disease context, revealing that these cells can release harmful factors such as inorganic polyphosphate that affect motoneuron survival, suggesting a non-cell autonomous mechanism of neuronal damage in ALS and FTD.
