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Up To Date

Kansas City scientist finds proteins in the brain can do more than cause Alzheimer's disease

By Steve Kraske,
Danie Alexander
Published July 13, 2022 at 4:58 PM CDT
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The squiggly blue lines visible in the neurons are an Alzheimer's biomarker called tau. The brownish clumps are amyloid plaques.
National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health
The squiggly blue lines visible in these neurons are an Alzheimer's biomarker called tau. The brownish clumps are amyloid plaques.

A Stowers Institute researcher intent on learning how our brains work found that proteins can have more than one effect on what we remember.

Kausik Si, who has a doctorate in molecular biology, oversees a lab at the Stowers Institute that works to understand how some experiences can change behavior while others do not.

Si's team took a deep dive into how memory works and made a surprising discovery about the role of proteins in our brains.

Amyloid proteins are the source of plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. Si's lab has found that proteins can also create structures that help form and stabilize long-term memories.

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Up To Date PodcastsciencebrainAlzheimer'sresearchHealthStowers Institute for Medical Research
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Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
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Danie Alexander
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.
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