Today's Health Links December 4, 2013

Gene therapy bolsters enzyme activity to combat Alzheimer's disease in mice
Scientists have identified an enzyme that can halt or possibly even reverse the build-up of toxic protein fragments known as plaques in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer's risk gene may begin to affect brains in childhood, research shows
People who carry a high-risk gene for Alzheimer’s disease show changes in their brains beginning in childhood, decades before the illness appears, new research suggests.
New compound for slowing aging process can lead to treatments for brain diseases
Recent work from researchers may lead to a potential treatment of brain diseases. The researchers found that a novel and unique compound, named NT219, selectively inhibits the process of aging in order to protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases, without affecting lifespan. This is a first and important step towards the development of future drugs for the treatment of various neurodegenerative maladies.