News
News of the lab in press.
Reversing Alzheimer’s gene ‘blockade’ can restore memory, other cognitive functions.
1 Mar 2012
MIT neuroscientists have shown that an enzyme overproduced in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients creates a blockade that shuts off genes necessary to form new memories. Furthermore, by inhibiting that enzyme in mice, the researchers were able to reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms.
The finding suggests that drugs targeting the enzyme, known as HDAC2, could be a promising new approach to treating the disease, which affects 5.4 million Americans. The number of Alzheimer’s victims worldwide is expected to double every 20 years, and President Barack Obama recently set a target date of 2025 to find an effective treatment.
Li-Huei Tsai, leader of the research team, says that HDAC2 inhibitors could help achieve that goal, though it would likely take at least 10 years to develop and test such drugs.
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Unraveling how a mutation can lead to psychiatric illness.
17 Nov 2011
In recent years, scientists have discovered several genetic mutations associated with greater risk of psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. One such mutation, known as DISC1 — an abbreviation for “Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1” — was first identified in a large Scottish family with high rates of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
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Two MIT scientists elected to the Institute of Medicine
18 Oct 2011
Two MIT researchers — Mriganka Sur and Li-Huei Tsai — have been named among the 65 new members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Tsai, who is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, examines the pathological mechanisms underlying neurological disorders affecting learning and memory. Her major research areas include neuropsychiatric disorders, autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
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6 from MIT named AAAS fellows
11 Jan 2011
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has awarded the distinction of fellow to 503 members, including six members of the MIT community.
Li-Huei Tsai was selected for “studies of cellular mechanisms of learning and of learning disruptions in Alzheimer's disease.”
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