Polish scientists make Alzheimer's breakthrough

The discovery was made by scientists from the International Molecular Biology and Cellular Institute (MIBMiK) and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics in Warsaw in collaboration with scientists from the University of Freiburg in Germany. The results of their study were published in the prestigious journal "Nature."

To produce energy for cells mitochondria need more than a thousand proteins and sometimes the transport of proteins goes wrong. Such mitochondrial dysfunction is characteristic of human pathologies associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

The scientists discovered how cells defend themselves against the consequences of such irregularities.

"It is hoped that this discovery will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular basis of neurodegenerative processes that occur commonly in aging societies, for example Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and to develop new strategies to counteract these pathologies," a statement from the MIBMiK reads. (jh)