|
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE BRAIN: FROM DEVELOPMENT TO DEGENERATIVE DISEASE |
|||
|
From the time of Hippocrates, nearly 2,500 years ago, the human brain has been recognized as the organ of the mind. The brain is the most complex organ in the body, containing approximately 50 billion specialized cells-neurons-that form a series of networks which subserve sensation, movement, memory, language, cognition, and emotion. The development of the brain is a process that occurs throughout the 40 weeks of fetal development and extends well into childhood and adolescence. Indeed, recent discoveries suggest that developmental processes continue into adult life and may be activated inappropriately in late life to produce diseases characterized by degeneration of neurons. Tonight's discussion is directed to help you understand the development and functional organization of the brain and how the brain and its functions are altered in degenerative brain diseases. The beginning of brain development is characterized by the rapid generation of new neurons. Within a few weeks, the fetal brain grows from the size of a grape to the size of a small grapefruit. While the early growth of the brain reflects the production of new neurons, a process largely completed by six months gestation, subsequent growth, extending from that time into childhood and adolescence, is a stage during which the nerve cells mature and form connections with one another. The points at which neurons communicate are called synapses, and it is the formation of synapses that represents the greatest task of development. The task is so massive in the human brain that, if it were extended in time with one synapse formed per millisecond, the development of a human brain would require the entire neolithic period, the last 100,000 years. We have learned a number of surprising things about the development of the brain over the last decade or so which have provided important insights into disease. In the course of development, the brain typically overproduces neurons and synapses. As functions develop, it then reduces both, with decreases in neuron number occurring through a genetically programmed cell death. When the brain determines that it does not need a neuron, it activates genes that result in death of that cell. Similarly, when synapses are not needed, they are removed and this process occurs throughout life. Our brains are continuously modifying themselves. In some individuals, however, this process goes awry and the programs for cell death are inappropriately initiated in late adult life. Tonight we will discuss two common diseases in which this occurs, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. |
|||
|
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
|
|
||
|
Associate director of the Alzheimer Disease Research Center's Clinical Core, Dr. Klunk has conducted a wide range of studies into the molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease. His current research interests include development of in vivo probes for the amyloid-beta protein of Alzheimer's disease; development of Congo red derivatives, which have therapeutic potential for the disease; and magnetic resonance studies of brain metabolism in Alzheimer's disease. Recipient of a prestigious FIRST Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Klunk was also a Leadership and Excellence in Alzheimer's Disease (LEAD) Scholar, an honor awarded by the National Institute on Aging. After receiving his dual M.D./Ph.D. degree in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Dr. Klunk came to Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in 1985, where he completed his internship, residency, and a two-year fellowship in geriatric neuropsycho-pharmacology. In 1993, he received the Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumnus Award from Shippensburg University, where he received his B.A. in chemistry. Dr. Klunk has co-authored 55 peer-reviewed papers and also written for Dear Friends, a newsletter for families and caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients. |
|||
|
Thomas Detre Professor and Chairman of Neurobiology
|
|
||
|
Co-director of the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Levitt investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the development of brain circuitry involved in emotion, cognition, memory, and learning. His interests include control of cell fate, differentiation and survival of neurons, and the adverse effects of environmental stressors, such as drugs of abuse, on developing neurons. Dr. Levitt employs many of the new techniques adapted from cell and molecular biology to permit detailed analysis of nerve cell development, structure and function, including gene cloning, protein biochemistry, cell culture and brain transplants. Recipient of the prestigious National Institute of Mental Health's MERIT Award, Dr. Levitt received his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in neurosciences from the University of California, San Diego. He has been on the faculty of the Yale University School of Medicine, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Appointed chairman of the Department of Neurobiology at Pitt in 1996, Dr. Levitt also serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Neuroscience, Neuron, Cerebral Cortex, and Biological Psychiatry and is a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Institute of Mental Health and on the Research Advisory Board for the March of Dimes. |
|||
|
Professor and Chairman of Neurology and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
|
|
||
|
For more than 30 years, Dr. Moore has studied the brain pathways involved in Parkinson's disease, and he is also recognized for his studies of the mechanisms of circadian rhythm generation and regulation in the mammalian brain. The daily sleep-wake cycle is the best known circadian rhythm and represents a fundamental component of our adaptation to our environment. Dr. Moore also serves as co-director of the Alzheimer Disease Research Center, the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence at Pitt, and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. This joint project of Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University is dedicated to analysis of the brain mechanisms involved in learning and memory, language, thought, perception attention and planning. Dr. Moore received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, which awarded him a Distinguished Service Award in 1980. Before becoming director of Pitt's Center for Neuroscience (1990-1996), he was professor and chairman of neurology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Moore has authored or co-authored more than 200 papers and lectured extensively throughout the world. |
|||
|
Alzheimer's Disease Internet Information Sources - A directory of web sites on aging maintained by the U.S. Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/webres/alz-cari.htm The ALZHEIMER Page - An educational service created and sponsored by the Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in St. Louis, Missouri. http://www.biostat.wustl.edu/alzheimer/ Alzheimers.com - A user-friendly web page with a set up similar to popular news services web pages such as CNN.com. Includes a wide variety of information on Alzheimer's disease, including the latest news items on research and other developments. http://www.alzheimers.com/ Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives - Contains neuroscience educational tools and a comprehensive website list for parents, teachers, and scientists interested in helping students learn more about the brain, nervous system, and neuroscience research. http://www.beemnet.com/dana/index.html#anchor615252 The Human Brain: A Mystery to Itself - A fun, simple, and interactive environment for learning about the human brain. From the sections of the brain to how drugs destroy it, this educational site describes the brain and how it affects our every day lives. http://library.advanced.org/26463/ The Whole Brain Atlas - Loads of PET, SPECT, and MRI images of the brain, including the normal brain and images of the brain affected by cerebrovascular, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases. http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html |
|||
|
Adult Information Processing: Limits on Loss. John Cerella, John Rybash, William Hoyer, Michael Commons (Eds). (Academic Press, 1993) Atlas of the Human Brain. Juergen K. Mai, Joseph K. Assheuer, George Paxinos (Eds.). (Academic Press, 1997) Alzheimer's Disease Sourcebook: Basic Health Information about Alzheimer's Disease, Related Disorders, and Other Dementias. Karen Bellenir (Ed.). (Omnigraphics, Inc., 1999) The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd Edition). Nancy L. Mace, Peter V. Rabins, Paul R. McHugh. (Warner Books, 1999) Tears in God's Bottle: Reflections on Alzheimer's Caregiving. Wayne Ewing. (Blessingway Books, 1999) What You Need To Know about Alzheimer's. John J. Medina. (New Harbinger Pubns., 1999) |
|||
