Cells talk more in areas Alzheimer’s hits first, boosting plaque component

brain plaques
Higher levels of cellular chatter boosts levels of amyloid beta in the brain regions that Alzheimer’s hits first, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report. Amyloid beta is the main ingredient of the plaque lesions that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. The finding may help explain why areas that are most active when the brain rests are often among the first to develop these plaques, according to the researchers.

Washington People: Eric Leuthardt

At 37, Eric Leuthardt, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery, is No. 5 on a list of the world’s 100 most prolific patent holders. He posts entries to his blog, Brains and Machines, on Tumblr about general brain science and his own work as a surgeon, teacher, researcher and inventor. He directs the Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology, and he has just sent drafts of his first novel to prospective publishers.

Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts honor distinguished alumni

The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts honored eight outstanding architecture and art alumni at its fourth annual Awards for Distinction dinner April 28 at the Coronado Ballroom in St. Louis. The awards recognized graduates who have demonstrated creativity, innovation, leadership and vision through their contributions to the practices of art, architecture and design, as well as to WUSTL and the Sam Fox School.

Notables

Corey Deeken, PhD, instructor in surgery, has received a one-year, $99,995 2011 Research Grant from the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation for research titled “Enzymatic Degradation of Biological Tissue-Based Scaffold Materials and the Effect on Tensile Strength Over Time.” … David Fike, PhD, assistant professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, has received a […]

More steps toward sustainability

To kick off a new Styrofoam recycling program at the School of Medicine this month, members of about 15 labs in the Department of Molecular Microbiology loaded one-year’s worth of Styrofoam into a 52-foot 18-wheeler truck April 28. Employees spent one hour loading the Styrofoam into the truck, which was filled about halfway.

Annelise Mertz, 93

Annelise Mertz, professor emerita in the Performing Arts Department (PAD) in Arts & Sciences, died Friday, April 28, at her home in Clayton, of pancreatic cancer. She was 93.

Jump in communication skills led to species explosion among electric fishes

The Mormyridae, a family of African fishes that communicate by means of weak electic discharges, has more than 200 species. Given its diversity a Washington University in St. Louis biologist wondered whether changes in electric communication might have influenced rates of speciation. His work showed that the fishes evolved a complex signal-processing brain before a burst of speciation, that signal variation was higher among fishes with that brain, and that these fishes could distinguish among subtly different discharges, whereas others could not.Together it adds up to a strong case for brain evolution triggering increased diversification.  

WUSTL partnership with area middle school reaping benefits

As the Brittany Woods-WUSTL partnership develops, programs that address students’ values, motivation, and attitudes are joining those that focus on academic subjects. Schools that combine academics with programs that support social development and healthy families are called community schools.

Winning the Green Cup

Members of the Sigma Chi fraternity accept a $500 prize for winning the Greek division of the Green Cup. The Green Cup compeititon lasted from March 28-April 22 and allowed residential colleges and fraternities to earn points for each percentage-point drop in per-person energy use over the competition.