What are the current issues in science?

• Scientists are closer to solving the mystery of memory loss.
• Studies are underway on what prematurely aging eggs may do to our chances of getting pregnant.
• Researchers have found an unexpected way in which glucose, the primary form of sugar used by cells for energy, might contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Researchers have uncovered a new target for potential treatments of cancer and other diseases.
• A new study has found that the human brain is still subject to restructuring until quite late in life, through mechanisms not previously suspected.

It’s clear there are many causes of memory loss throughout our lifetimes. But what if we could ditch the “what you can’t remember tells you it’s age” thing? What would happen if scientists were able to figure out exactly what was causing memory loss at various points throughout our lives? And more importantly, could they find a way to stop it? It may be an ambitious goal but the sheer volume of research into this topic should give us hope that one day soon we will be able to keep our memories sharp and strong.

Advancements in Alzheimer’s research have been so rapid, it is hard to keep up with the new information being published every day. One of these daily discoveries includes a mechanism inside of cells that contributes to Alzheimer’s development. Furthering knowledge of this newly discovered pathway is an important step in developing treatments for this disease which has no cure yet.

Research into premature aging diseases such as progeria leads scientists to suspect that there might be some connection between these diseases and their resemblance to normal aging. Now researchers are testing what effects early onset ovarian failure (premature menopause) might have on women in order to find out if the same problems seen in prog patients arise later in life due to ovarian failure.

Doctors have recently discovered that glucose, the form of sugar most commonly used by cells for energy, can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Further research into this discovery might lead to the development of treatments for this disease which has no cure yet.

Through stem cell research scientists are beginning to understand how complex restructuring of our brains takes place throughout our lifetimes. This new insight will pave the way for understanding more about diseases such as Parkinson’s and other brain-related illnesses.

The human brain is still subject to many changes throughout our lives, but until now researchers were unaware that restructuring due to learning could continue through late life. New research into this possible mechanism have opened up potential reasons why some people are able to keep their memories sharp while others do not.

New research indicates that the brain’s reward system may be linked to our ability to make decisions based off past experience and memory. Finding out more about this connection might help scientists understand how we process memories and lead to new therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s which has no cure yet.