Brains, dishwashers and dementia
• Professor Roslyn Bill discusses her research into brain cell membranes with Dr Matt Derry
• Serious brain injuries and dementia are affected by the flow of water through a protein called aquaporin-4 in brain cell membranes
• Aquaporins are responsible for clearing the build-up of waste products in brain cells in a process Professor Bill likens to a ‘dishwasher for your brain’.
Professor Roslyn Bill, co-founder of Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), joins Dr Matt Derry to discuss her research into brain cell membranes in the latest Aston Originals podcast.
Water moves in and out of brain cells through tiny protein channels in the cell membrane called aquaporins. One in particular, aquaporin-4, is the focus of Professor Bill’s research.
In 2020, she was lead author on a paper published in prestigious journal Cell on how the channels open and close and how this can be controlled. Uncontrolled water entry into brain cells can occur after head trauma, causing swelling which leads to severe brain injuries of the type suffered by racing driver Michael Schumacher after a skiing accident. Finding drugs to control this water movement could lead to treatments to prevent brain swelling in the first place.
This research into brain swelling and the contribution of aquaporins led Professor Bill to research into Alzheimer’s, a common form of dementia, which is also related to the action of aquaporins. Alzheimer’s is caused by a build-up of waste products in brain cells. In a process Professor Bill likened to a ‘dishwasher for your brain’, aquaporins are responsible for clearing this waste as we sleep.
Professor Bill was selected for an Advanced Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) in 2023, which is being funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The funded project will further investigate the process, and whether it might be possible to develop a drug to boost the ‘brain dishwasher’, which could be taken to slow or even prevent cognitive decline due to ageing.
Bringing together this biological research with the polymer research of AIME, chemists like Dr Derry will help in the drug development and could also lead to totally different applications.
Professor Bill said in the podcast to Dr Derry:
“We can take the knowledge that we have of how these proteins work in cells and try and apply them to interesting applications in biotechnology. And this is where the sort of work that you (Dr Derry) do comes in, where you can develop plastic membranes, polymer membranes, and then take learning from the biology and try and make really, really good ways of purifying water, for example.”
For more information about AIME and open positions, visit tinyurl.com/2ufttvsa
Professor Roslyn Bill - tinyurl.com/38rbrzds
Dr Matt Derry - tinyurl.com/55vv43ee
#teamaston #AstonInstituteofMembraneExcellence, #AIME, #ProfessorRoslynBill, #DrMattDerry, #AstonUniversity, #Biotechnology, #Braincellmembranes, #Aquaporins, #Brainswelling, #Alzheimersresearch, #Alzheimers, #Dementia, #Brain, #Braininjuries, #MichaelSchumacher, #ResearchEngland, #Researchgrant, #UKResearchandInnovation, #UKRI, #EuropeanResearchCouncil, #ERC, #Biomimeticmembranes, #Polymerresearch, #Drugdevelopment, #Cognitivedecline, #Aging, #Ageing #Biotechnologyapplications, #Waterpurification, #Podcast, #AstonOriginals, #Scientificresearch, #Advancedgrant, #Brainhealth, #Openpositions
Пікірлер: 30
I'm so relieved. I thought she was going to link using a dishwasher to contracting dementia. I thought I was going to have to start washing dishes by hand again. 😅😅😅
@H4me7215
20 күн бұрын
Oh my me too!!! Glad I ready comment u saved me haha
Great content. However with so long videos, timestamps, chapters would have helped a lot.
Very clear and compelling discussion of brain cell function, importance of sleep, and dementia. Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to more information about Aquaporin 4 and possible cures. Nicely video'd also, although if I could make one tiny suggestion: Your camera setup breaks the '180 degree rule' which says the camera should not cross the imaginary line between two characters. It's a bit startling when your camera shot 'crosses the line' for the wide shot from each closeup, the interviewees switch sides.
Red light or near infrared light can penetrate the skull energizing cells. It is proposed that pulsating RL/NIL encourages cellular respiration. How would this affect brain health? How often would you want to do something like that?
@lauraw.7008
Ай бұрын
Interesting question
@bonni2267
11 күн бұрын
regular panels with 660 or 800 Red/infared panels. must research the best amt. I do 5 mins with a 12 in panel with both lights 5 top face back & 2 sides & 5 under chin for better skin * brain health. Drink plenty of clean water & jump on trampoline/rebounder for lymph movement/drainage
The bad stuff in food and drinks will destroy many brains
Very interesting, and I loved the dishwasher analogy too! I struggle with sleeping well at night . .
@rosannerossi6376
25 күн бұрын
Prayer. My son has always had a hard time falling asleep. I told him to pray the rosary, if you fall asleep before you’re done you’re guardian angel will finish it for you, if you don’t fall asleep you aren’t wasting your time, praying to Jesus.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing.
Very helpful information - thank you
Great use of resources... your use of ancient audio equipment ensures us Luddite's can continue to lap it up. Your guest or one of her colleagues at UKRI, i think it was that lot, stated on cam....follow the science you pay for. Of course i may be mistaken, highly likely, so, disregard that if you will and if so, accept my apologies Guest and colleague.
cool, I have all three of those things!
Yes, I agree, if you are lazy and use a dishwasher, you probably are also addicted to sugar and carbohydrates! In my fifties , as good citizen heeding the establishment dietary recommendations , I was on a high speed train to dementia! Changed to keto- high fat carnivore , low or no sugar carbs, fasting, all decline reversed!Beware: fat metabolism only works long term in context of fasting
@henrimoens8636
23 күн бұрын
After eating tons of Ice cream and drinking hectoliters of coca-cola, at the 'ripe' age of 60 the doctor told me that I was a candidate for 2 knee replacements. I suffered a panic attack and discovered Paleo & fasting. At 70 I'm studying Japanese & Python programming again. I'm also doing long walks on the beach with my dogs using my own naturally healed knees. I try keto but can't stay there very long. Time to panic once again?
Trampoline lots of water & infared lights & good bye lupus smoothie.
It's the SUGAR. IT'S THE SUGAR YOU EAT. STOP EATING CARBOHYDRATES.
@eswaribalan164
24 күн бұрын
Sugar is truely one of the worst. All my fat rolled off, the minute l went on a one main meal per day in the morning at 10am. Feel good, energetic and well.
STATINS?
@incognitotorpedo42
19 күн бұрын
No, it's not statins.
@mhazzard7282
13 күн бұрын
She did say the word Statins some where