On October 17, 2017, Newsweek highlighted research co-authored by 2005 Glenn/AFAR Scholarships for Research in the Biology of Aging recipient Felicia Ooi, PhD on insights roundworms that links smell to triggering protective neural reactions linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Ooi’s research was originally published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The Newsweek article, “The Next Medical Breakthrough for Treating Alzheimer’s Could Come From Roundworms” summarizes:
“It is interesting as it is to understand the roundworm sense of smell, the work also has a compelling connection to humans. Alzheimer's disease and Huntington’s disease affect the human brain in a similar way as lethal bacteria. Nerve cells in the brain become damaged by toxic proteins and die, ultimately affecting brain function, memories, and thoughts. For that reason, this research could help inform future research into treating and preventing these types of neurodegenerative diseases. The question is, if sensations like smells can trigger roundworms to protect themselves from damage, can human brain cells do the same?”
Read the full Newsweek article here and a related press release from the University of Iowa here.
Felicia Ooi, PhD, is a Graduate Resarch Assistant in the Department of Biology at the University of Iowa
