Mission Critical: Save the Synapses

Posted May 28, 2014

Streamed live on May 28, 2014

The human brain contains 100 billion neurons, exchanging electrochemical signals with one another via 100 trillion connections called synapses. All human thought and action depends on the health of these synaptic connections. The destruction of synapses correlates very closely with the progressive symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Listen here to a discussion with Dr. Roberto Malinow of University of California, San Diego. Dr. Malinow studies how and why synapses are weakened in Alzheimer’s disease, and is investigating drugs that may have the potential to stop this process.

Read more about Dr. Malinow and his work here.