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SUMMARY:Could the ageing be infectious? - Dr Damian Crowther\, Department 
 of Genetics\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20121012T170000Z
DTEND:20121012T181500Z
UID:TALK39981@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Xavier Moya
DESCRIPTION:Many of the most common disorders of old age are characterised
  by the misfolding of protein molecules and their subsequent aggregation. 
 These aggregates are seen in the brain as plaques in patients with Alzheim
 er's disease and similar lesions in patients with Parkinson's\, Huntington
 's and motor neurone diseases.  The blood vessels in the elderly and the p
 ancreas in diabetics are other common sites of protein aggregation and dep
 osition. This protein misfolding can be infectious and this underpins the 
 dreadful disaster of mad cow disease and CJD. Until recently there were th
 ought to be no other examples. Now\, recent research suggests that the com
 mon brain disorders of old age may in some respects be infectious - not be
 tween people but between neighbouring nerve cells within the brain. This n
 ovel approach to understanding the progression of disorders such as Alzhei
 mer's disease may allow new tests and treatments to be developed.
LOCATION:Old Combination Room (OCR)\, Wolfson College
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