South Korean researchers have succeeded in controlling the formation and molecular structure of protein fibers which cause degenerative nerve diseases such as dementia.
 
The research team, led by Sungkyunkwan University Professor Eom Kil-ho, said Tuesday that it succeeded in controlling the formation and molecular structure of amyloid fibrils which are known to cause Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
 
Amyloids are fibers created by the abnormal aggregation of protein and peptide chains, but their structure and formation mechanism have yet to be completely determined.
 
The research team said it found that the molecular structure of amyloid fibrils is decided by the conditions of heat energy, after radiating microwave pulses at amyloid fibrils.
 
The team said finding a mechanism that can delay the formation of amyloid fibrils could contribute to the treatment of diseases.
 
The research was published in the online edition of Scientific Reports.