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Scientists at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) have identified a group of chemical compounds that slow the degeneration of neurons, a condition behind old-age diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Their findings are featured in the November 2008 edition of Experimental Biology and medicine SMU Chemistry Professor Edward R. Biehl and UTD Biology Professor Santosh D'Mello teamed to test 45 chemical compounds. Four were found to be the most potent protectors of neurons, the cells that are core components of the human brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves........

The Sixteenth Annual report of the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit (NCJDSU) is published today. The report looks back over the period from May 1990 (when the Unit was set up) to 31 December 2007. The report outlines the Unit's work in the clinical surveillance of variant (vCJD), sporadic and iatrogenic CJD.