D C—24 C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE PUZZLES Flicker …

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Rabia I 14, 1438 AH

P9 Community Three GU-Q students have been recognised for their fledgling online business at the recent Mubadara young entrepreneurs' competition.

P16 Community The second Bazm-e-Sadaf Symposium and award ceremony in Doha sees congregation of finest Urdu writers from different parts of the world.

DOHA 16?C--24?C TODAY

LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11

PUZZLES 12 & 13

Flicker of a hope COVER

STORY

Flickering lights may illuminate a path to Alzheimer's treatment, says new study. P4-5

2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, December 13, 2016

COMMUNITY

ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME

Fajr Shorooq (sunrise) Zuhr (noon) Asr (afternoon) Maghreb (sunset) Isha (night)

USEFUL NUMBERS

4.48am 6.10am 11.28am 2.26pm 4.47pm 6.17pm

Emergency

999

Worldwide Emergency Number

112

Kahramaa ? Electricity and Water

991

Local Directory

180

International Calls Enquires

150

Hamad International Airport

40106666

Labor Department

44508111, 44406537

Mowasalat Taxi

44588888

Qatar Airways

44496000

Hamad Medical Corporation

44392222, 44393333

Qatar General Electricity and

Water Corporation

44845555, 44845464

Primary Health Care Corporation

44593333

44593363

Qatar Assistive Technology

Centre

44594050

Qatar News Agency

44450205

44450333

Q-Post ? General Postal

Corporation

44464444

Humanitarian Services Office

(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)

Ministry of Interior

40253371, 40253372,

40253369

Ministry of Health

40253370, 40253364

Hamad Medical Corporation

40253368, 40253365

Qatar Airways

40253374

QuotSeucUcensqs uote

consists of going from failure to failure without

loss of enthusiasm.

? Winston Churchill

Community Editor Kamran Rehmat

e-mail: community@gulf- Telephone: 44466405 Fax: 44350474

Bad Santa 2 DIRECTED BY: Mark Waters CAST: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly SYNOPSIS: Fuelled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie Soke

(Billy Bob Thornton) teams up with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Along for the ride is chubby and cheery Thurman Merman, a 250-pound ray of sunshine who brings out Willie's sliver of humanity. Mommy issues arise when

the pair are joined by Willie's horror story of a mother, Sunny Soke, who raises the bar for the gang's ambitions, while somehow lowering the standards of criminal behaviour.

THEATRES: Mall Cinema, Royal Plaza Cinema Palace

Underworld Blood Wars DIRECTED BY: Anna Foerster CAST: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Peter Andersson SYNOPSIS: Vampire death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) continues her struggle against the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her, with both sides trying to use the blood of her and her daughter to become Vampire-Corvinus hybrids. After hiding her daughter, Selene, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), attempt to end the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, though Selene must take a risk that may cost her her life.

THEATRES: Mall Cinema, Landmark Cinema

Mall Cinema (1): Befikre (Hindi) 2pm; Bad Santa 2 (2D) 4:15pm; Moana (2D) 6pm; Kavi (Malayalam) 8:15pm; Dhruva (Telugu) 10:45pm. Mall Cinema (2): Moana (2D) 2:15pm; Moana (2D) 4:30pm; Moana (2D) 6:45pm; Befikre (Hindi) 9pm; The Girl with All The Gift (2D) 11:30pm. Mall Cinema (3): The Girl With All The Gifts (2D) 2pm; Wolves At The Door (2D) 4pm; Underworld: Blood Wars (2D) 5:30pm; The Neighbor (2D) 7:15pm; Wolves At The Door (2D) 9:30pm; Chennai 600825 (Tamil) 11pm. Landmark Cinema (1): Befikre (Hindi) 2pm; Bad Santa 2 (2D) 4:15pm; Underworld: Blood Wars (2D) 5:45pm; Wolves At The Door

8:45pm; Dhruva (Telugu) 10:30pm.

Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):

Dhurva (Telugu) 2pm; The Girl

(2D) 7:30pm; Kavi (Malayalam) 9pm; With All The Gifts (2D) 5pm; The

Wolves At The Door (2D) 11:30pm. Unmarried Wife (2D) 7pm; Befikre

Landmark Cinema (2): Moana (2D) (Hindi) 9:15pm; Wolves At The Door

2:30pm; Moana (2D) 4:45pm; Moana (2D) 11:30pm.

(2D) 7pm; Befikre (Hindi) 9:15pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3):

The Girl With All The Gifts (2D)

Befikre (Hindi) 2pm; The Neighbor

11:30pm.

(2D) 4:30pm; Bad Santa 2 (2D)

Landmark Cinema (3): The

6:15pm; Wolves At The Door (2D)

Neighbor (2D) 2:15pm; Chennai

8pm; The Neighbor (2D) 9:45pm;

600825 (Tamil) 4pm; Chennai

The Girl With All The Gifts (2D)

600825 (Tamil) 6:45pm; The

11:30pm.

Neighbor (2D) 9:15pm; Chennai

Asian Town Cinema: Ore Mugham

600825 (Tamil) 10:45pm.

(Malayalam) 5:30, 8 & 10:30pm;

Royal Plaza Cinema Palace

Kattappana (Malayalam) 6 &

(1): Moana (2D) 2pm; Moana (2D) 8:45pm; Dhruva (Telugu) 6:30pm;

4:15pm; Moana (2D) 6:30pm;

Chennai 600825 (Tamil) 8:15pm;

Underworld: Blood Wars (2D)

Befikre (Hindi) 5:45 &11pm.

ROUND & ABOUT

GULF TIMES Tuesday, December 13, 2016

3

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Katara National Day Celebrations Katara Esplanade 18-19 December, 1pm-10pm (18th) 10am10pm (19th) This year's celebrations at Katara will display a line-up of exceptional activities and programmes, including entertaining and rich events of military and traditional shows, as well as local and popular-themed competitions and contests that will be staged for your pleasure.

National Day Parade December 18, 7am--8am Al Corniche A fantastic parade where people will get to enjoy a parade by MOI, Emiri Guards, Lekhwiya, Civil Defence and other governmental bodies. There will also be aerial and sea displays by the air force and navy. The Corniche will be closed before 9am, so make sure to get there early!

Palm Tree Illumination 15-31 December, Sunset-Sunrise Corniche (and around Qatar) Don't forget to pass by the Corniche, to check out the Palm Tree illumination! It's a beautiful sight. Honestly, we wish it could always look like that.

Al Doha - Retrospect 8-20 December, All day event Darb Al Saai View a showcase of Qatar's history and development through the times. Government and Civil organisations have come together to show the public how Qatar became to what it is today.

Al Shaqab ? Horse riding 8-20 December, All day event Darb Al Saai The Al Shaqab event provides special trainers to teach visitors horse riding! Kids will also have the opportunity to learn horse riding. There will also be presentations that will provide tips and advice on how to care and breed horses. For more information on Qatar National Day events, visit qatarnationalday.qa

Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a Legend DATE: Until February 25, 2017 WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor, Museum of Islamic Art The temporary exhibition is curated by Qatar Museums' 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum and presents a unique collection of artefacts from the boxing legend's career, including photography from Ali's outdoor exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971 and memorabilia spanning his journey to the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali's world title winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 and his final world title winning fight against Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978.

Qatar Music Academy (For school students) Until March 28, 2017 11am - 2pm Free (Requires registration) Qatar Music Academy focuses on teaching

its students the principles of Arab and Western music. As part of the "Our Culture is a School" programme, Qatar Music Academy has offered interested schools the opportunity to attend various workshops. These workshops will include an introduction to Arab and Western music and instruments, as well as the teachers giving a brief overview of the educational music programmes at the Academy. For further details, visit

Al Gannas (For school students) Until March 31 2017 9am ? Noon Al Gannas Society Free (For boys only, requires registration) Al Gannas association is participating in the "Our culture is a school" programme, by organising many activities for the students every Monday and Wednesday of the week. These activities include explanations on hunting and related items tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel heir), prepare traditional Arabic coffee and start a fire. For further details, visit

QMASS general body meeting DATE: December 16 TIME: 4pm VENUE: ICC A general body meeting of the forum of expatriates from Mahe and neighbouring regions of Kerala is scheduled to take place on December 16 at ICC. All members are requested to attend the meeting. The executive committee requests all the expatriates hailing from the above mentioned regions to take part and to get registered. Football for Development DATE: Until December 16 TIME: 5pm-9pm VENUE: Mesaimeer With the success of the pilot training

conducted jointly by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Naaas Group for Real Estate Project Management & Development, in July and August this year, the first in a series of Generation Amazing's Football for Development Programme was inaugurated on October 14.

The programme continues every Friday from 5pm until 9pm at Labor City, Mesaimeer with a look of festivity, grandeur and boundless energy.

The training programme, held once a week, involves football-based activities and drills to educate, train and develop the social, behavioural and lifestyle patterns of the recipients. This, in turn, leaves a positive legacy on the society and the world at large. The concept is for each participant to absorb the values of inclusion, health, well-being and awareness of the environment around us.

Under the accomplished supervision of Naas and the SC, this 10-week programme is an excellent platform to use the power of football as a catalyst for social change, empower the next generation and allow Qatar to leave a lasting legacy as a result of hosting World Cup 2022.

The Backyard DATE: Every Friday TIME: 6pm VENUE: Sheraton Grand Doha The Backyard is a first-of-its-kind venue in Doha and brought to you by Candela entertainment. Live music every Friday with a variety of your favourite local bands and occasional surprises of bigger performers! Entrance: QR100 for gents including one beverage/ladies free entrance until 8:30pm, after it will be QR65 for ladies including one beverage.

Fragments DATE: Until January 30 VENUE: Katara In this exhibition, Mahmoud Obaidi retraces the `organised chaos' that led to the destruction of Iraq, and presents a response to witnessing the city of Baghdad fall piece by piece. Obaidi recreates what has been stolen or destroyed to try to piece the city back together again.

Tumbao Latin Nights DATE: Every Sunday VENUE: Grand Hyatt Hotel Tumbao is not only a salsa rhythm, it enables you to share in the creative flow of life and get connected to the beat and dance. Join us every Sunday at Dunes with the fellow Latin dancers in town and nightly competitions with valuable prizes brought to you by Salsa n Candela. For more info & reservation, contact 44481280.

Treasures of China DATE: Until January 7, 2017 VENUE: Museum of Islamic Art Terracotta soldiers from the First Emperor's Terracotta Army will be on show at the Museum of Islamic Art where

visitors will get the chance to meet the warriors who guarded a hidden empire. The exhibition will display 116 pieces dating from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty, spanning over 5,000 years of China's history. Potteries, bronzes, jades, porcelains, gold, silver, enamel and many other Chinese treasures will be on show.

Cake Decoration Classes DATE: Morning and evening VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al Sadd Street Tavola offers a range of cake decorating and kitchen skills classes. It is the only authorised Wilton method provider in the Middle East. It is authorised by Wilton enterprises to conduct classes in the Wilton Method cake decorating and the Wilton Method Instructors (WMI) training programmes by Knightsbridge PME (UK). Tavola conducts sugar-crafting programmes and also offers programmes in baking and chocolate making. Fitness Training DATE: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday TIME: 6pm-7pm VENUE: MIA Park There are fitness classes in the park on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of fitness, Bootcamp is an intensive and fun way to train and also meet new people in the open and friendly group atmosphere. More information, from Bootcamp, Qatar or info@ .

FOODIE'S CHOICE

RESTAURANT: Emirgan Sutis LOCATION: Al Hilal Emirgan Sutis is a Turkish restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

E-mail: gtlisting@, Events and timings subject to change

4 GULF TIMES Tuesday, December 13, 2016

COMMUNITY

COVER STORY

Light at tunnel's end?

Even if the new research does not yield a treatment for Alzheimer's, it is expected to deepen understanding of the brain's dedicated immune system and point to ways it can be used to fight the disease, writes Melissa Healy

New research demonstrates that, in mice whose brains are under attack by Alzheimer's dementia, exposure to lights that flicker at a precise frequency can right the brain's faulty signalling and energise its immune cells to fight off the disease.

Light therapy for Alzheimer's is miles from being ready to treat patients -- even those with the earliest signs of the disease. But the new research has already prompted creation of a start-up company -- Cognito Therapeutics Inc. -- to approach the Food and Drug Administration about clinical trials, and to explore ways to deliver precisely calibrated flickers of light to human research subjects.

Even if the new research does not yield a treatment for Alzheimer's, it is expected to deepen understanding of a key player in the disease -- the brain's dedicated immune system -- and point to ways it can be used

"I think we have something very fundamentally different" from previous attempts to develop an antiamyloid treatment for Alzheimer's disease," Li-Huei Tsai, Director of MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, above, says. She describes the flickering light that kick-starts the process as "very low intensity, very ambient, very soft light." She says, "you can hardly see the flicker itself, actually"

to fight the disease. In 2016, 5.4 million Americans are believed to have Alzheimer's, which causes progressive loss of memory and cognitive function.

In a study published last week in the journal Nature, neuroscientists demonstrated that microglia -- immune cells that are a key part of the brain's cleanup crew -- can be activated by inducing rhythmic electrical impulses in the brain called gamma oscillations.

In the region of the brain that processes sight, at least, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed they could induce cells to fire in synchronous gamma oscillation without so much as a needle stick: When they set mice in a box illuminated by LED lights flickering precisely at 40 Hz, the neurons of each animal's visual cortex began humming along at the same frequency.

The effect was dramatic in mice

bred to develop the sticky brain plaques and tangles that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease in humans. After only an hour in front of the lights, the scientists found reduced levels of amyloid protein in the visual cortices of the animals. They detected a noticeable uptick in the size and activity of microglia, suggesting that these immune cells were vacuuming up more amyloid protein and stepping up their trashdisposal efforts.

Noting that this effect lasted less than a full day, the scientists then gave some of the mice a week of daily sessions in the flickering light. Compared with mice who did not get the weeklong light therapy, those that did had 67 percent fewer amyloid plaques -- the clumps of amyloid protein that appear to gum up the function of a brain in the grips of Alzheimer's. And the plaques that they had were, on average, 64 percent smaller.

In mice, these effects were limited to the visual cortex. In humans with Alzheimer's, that's not one of the brain regions that gets gummed up early or significantly by amyloid plaques. But the authors of the new research held out hope that the light therapy might induce gamma oscillations, or their immuneboosting effect, more broadly in human brains, or that some change in delivery of the light might extend its effects to brain regions, such as the hippocampus, that are profoundly affected by Alzheimer's.

COVER STORY

GULF TIMES 5 Tuesday, December 13, 2016

COMMUNITY

IN A NUTSHELL: The difference between a healthy brain and one affected by the disease.

It's not hard to induce gamma oscillations naturally: Our neurons achieve such synchrony when we are learning, paying attention or engaging our short-term memory. But getting populations of neurons to fire in such resonance is hard even for the healthy to sustain for very long, and with the onset of many brain diseases, it becomes harder.

The new findings are a welcome victory for an approach to treating Alzheimer's disease that has fallen on hard times. Just two weeks ago, Eli Lilly & Co. researchers acknowledged disappointing clinical trial results for solanezumab, an experimental therapy that also aimed to prevent or slow Alzheimer's by blocking the formation of amyloid plaques.

Some scientists have grown discouraged with treatment efforts that focus on such "biomarkers" of the disease in the brain. Others, including the authors of the new paper, suggest instead that scientists aren't using such therapies early enough, or that they just haven't found the best way to prevent the protein clumping and the cascade of cell death that follows.

"I think we have something very fundamentally different" from previous attempts to develop an anti-amyloid treatment for Alzheimer's disease, said Li-Huei Tsai, a senior author of the new paper.

The light therapy "doesn't involve any chemicals or small molecules that have to be delivered directly into your body," said Tsai, who directs MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. While its effects still must be tested in humans, she said that inducing gamma waves with flickering light gets around some of the problems that have doomed so many experimental Alzheimer's medications. Among those problems have been unintended drug effects and the inability of some drugs to reach the brain from the bloodstream.

"We just directly recruit other neurons and other cell types in the

brain to sort of enable the brain's inner ability to repair itself," Tsai said. She described the flickering light that kick-starts the process as "very low intensity, very ambient, very soft light."

"You can hardly see the flicker itself, actually," she added.

The researchers focused on gamma oscillations in the brain partly because these synchronised brain rhythms are severely reduced in the hippocampus and other regions acutely affected by Alzheimer's. To establish that increasing gamma oscillations would energise microglial cells in structures such as the hippocampus, the team first used optogenetics, a technique in which lights implanted into the brain are used to turn specially tagged brain cells off and on.

That technique essentially established the link between gamma oscillations and activation of the brain's immune cells. But the researchers reasoned that optogenetics would ultimately be too intrusive to use in a human treatment. So they began exploring ways to energise those special cells in less invasive ways.

Gamma oscillation and immune

"It's more like a proof of concept that you can, in various ways, improve brain synchronicity and stimulate the immune system," says Keith Fargo, director of scientific programmes and outreach at the Alzheimer's Association. "What's important here is that you can harness the immune system to fight Alzheimer's," he says

system activity also appear to be reduced in other neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Tsai said her lab and others have begun collaborating to explore the possible benefits of light therapy for those diseases as well.

Keith Fargo, director of scientific programmes and outreach at the Alzheimer's Association, cautioned that it's not time yet for those worried about Alzheimer's to go looking for LED lights that emit electromagnetic radiation in the gamma range. The value of the

new research, he said, lies mostly in what it reveals about the role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease.

"It's more like a proof of concept that you can, in various ways, improve brain synchronicity and stimulate the immune system," said Fargo, who was not involved in the new research. "What's important here is that you can harness the immune system, whether with a drug or a noninterventional method like this," to fight Alzheimer's, he added.

"We're not all going to go out

and get 40-hertz light bulbs for our brains," he said.

Senior study co-author Edward S. Boyden, a pioneer in optogenetics, echoed that caution and the hope is that the new research will generate broader insights into the brain's electrical oscillations and its selfrepair mechanisms.

"There may be other ways to engage these circuits," said Boyden, a professor of bioengineering and brain and cognitive sciences at MIT. "There may be a universal circuit motif that can be found in many regions." -- Los Angeles Times/TNS

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