University of Warwick - An insight into Alzheimer's

A team of researchers has discovered a clue to the cause of brain "rust" that can trigger Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The researchers at the University of Warwick studied a protein called transferrrin, which transports iron molecules safely through the bloodstream by enclosing them. Iron can cause damage if it is exposed to the wrong cells, and it can be a factor in neurodegenerative diseases if it is not delivered safely to the brain. The Warwick team, collaborating with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, discovered that in certain conditions, protein molecules form a tendril, with iron settling in exposed deposits.