Outrageous fortune: the risk of suicide in genetic testing for Huntington disease

Article Abstract:

The risk of suicide exists when genetic testing is undertaken in dealing with Huntington disease (HD). Suicide seems to be a more frequent cause of death in those with HD, by about a factor of four or five, than with others, and other suicide data relative to testing for it are available. Depression can be recognized and treated before testing and all who are to be tested for HD should be carefully evaluated in advance. Testing can be postponed. Compassionate support in the weeks and months following the test is very important. An identified and trusted support person should be available during the entire testing process. There is no expensive, extensive, labor-intensive network for support, such as would be needed for all who might undergo HD testing and the larger number being tested genetically for similar diseases. Society has not faced the questions involved, but steps are being taken to define the risk.

Psychological aspects, Editorial, Usage, Prevention, Suicide, Depression, Mental, Depression (Mood disorder), Ethical aspects, Chromosome mapping, Genetic disorders, Huntington's chorea, Huntington's disease, Genetic counseling

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Microglia and the immune pathology of Alzheimer disease

Article Abstract:

The brain immune cell, the microglia, is thought to have a role in the disease pathway for Alzheimer disease (AD), for which many disease pathways have been theorized. Blood monocytes do not go into the CNS to replace microglia. A thick coat of spines is on the surface/projections of microglia, not on other classes of mononuclear phagocytes. Microglia go quickly into a quiescent state when they contact neurons and astroglia, and that state accounts for the immune privilege seen with the CNS. Microglia have thin processes hundreds of microns long. The AD role of the microglia, which are a source of proeinases that degrade plaques and may affect life spans of Abeta deposits and rate of AD progression, is discussed.

Research, Physiological aspects, Alzheimer's disease, Central nervous system, Neurology, Astrocytes

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