Monday, January 22, 2024

The Monday Morning Stimulus

 With some guest appearances from Tika Camaj


a groundbreaking discovery by researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) suggests a promising avenue for tackling these devastating conditions through an unlikely source – used coffee grounds.

The research team, led by Jyotish Kumar, a dedicated doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UTEP, and overseen by Mahesh Narayan, Ph.D., a distinguished professor and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry within the same department, has unveiled a potential game-changer in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.

Their work centers around caffeic-acid based Carbon Quantum Dots (CACQDs), derived from discarded coffee grounds, which may offer protection to brain cells against the damage triggered by various factors including obesity, aging, and exposure to toxic environmental chemicals. The team's findings are documented in a paper published in the journal Environmental Research.

"Caffeic-acid based Carbon Quantum Dots have the potential to be transformative in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders," asserts Kumar, emphasizing the critical distinction that their approach aims to find a cure rather than merely manage symptoms. "Our aim is to find a cure by addressing the atomic and molecular underpinnings that drive these conditions."

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized primarily by the progressive loss of neurons or brain cells. This debilitating process impairs fundamental functions such as movement, speech, as well as more intricate tasks like bladder and bowel control and cognitive abilities. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Pre-Tax Double Scoop Edition ready and awaiting your digital pleasure. 








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