Aging is one of the leading causes that is associated with brain dysfunction, degeneration, and disease. Progressive inflammation in the brain due to age adversely affects brain function and increases susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Stanford inventors have found that Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) treatment following stoke leads to improved functional recovery and a pharmaceutical composition containing STC2 as an active ingredient can be used to facilitate post stroke recovery.
Researchers in Dr. Karl Deisseroth's lab have engineered a channelrhodopsin variant that can be stimulated by red light and has fast stimulation frequencies. In neurons, channelrhodopsins are light activated protein channels that induce action potential firing.
Researchers in Dr. Bingwei Lu's lab have identified genes that could serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a common neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting 1% of the population over the age 60.