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Brain cell connections weakened during first half of sleep, study reveals

During sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons that had been forged while awake – but only during the first half of a night's sleep, according to a new study in fish by UCL scientists.

2 May 2024

Study uncovers molecular mechanism linking nonsense-mediated RNA decay to microcephaly

Nonsense-mediated RNA decay, or NMD, is an evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanism in which potentially defective messenger RNAs, or mRNAs (genetic material that instructs the body on how to make proteins), are degraded.

1 May 2024

Research offers hope to millions of people with complex regional pain syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic and debilitating pain disorder, typically considered lifelong with limited treatment options.

30 Apr 2024

Quantum biology's new frontier: Tryptophan networks and brain disease defense

The effects of quantum mechanics-;the laws of physics that apply at exceedingly small scales-;are extremely sensitive to disturbances.

29 Apr 2024

New study reveals potential cellular mechanism behind cognitive decline in Alzheimer's

Researchers have developed a robust method for identifying rare brain neurons that re-enter the cell cycle, offering insights into their role in cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

28 Apr 2024

Synchronized vasomotion enhances brain function in mice

Compared with computers, the brain can perform computations with a very low net energy supply. Yet our understanding surrounding how the biological brain manages energy is still incomplete.

26 Apr 2024

Mitochondrial depletion in axons linked to protein accumulation in neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified how proteins collect abnormally in neurons, a feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

22 Apr 2024

Study identifies potential strategy to diminish the devastating impacts of traumatic brain injuries

For the roughly 1.5 million Americans per year who survive a traumatic brain injury, health outcomes vary widely.

22 Apr 2024

Brain rhythms: Key to understanding emergent thought

Thought emerges and is controlled in the brain via the rhythmically and spatially coordinated activity of millions of neurons, scientists argue in a new article.

18 Apr 2024

Exploring how gene variants affect brain cells in children with severe epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures.

16 Apr 2024

Real-world data validates gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy

Findings from a new study in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases, published by IOS Press, demonstrate the effectiveness of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

15 Apr 2024

Tiam1 inhibition mitigates morphine tolerance and hyperalgesia in mouse model

Morphine and other opioids are vital to treat severe and chronic pain. However, they have two problems -; prolonged use creates morphine tolerance, where ever-increasing doses are needed for the same pain relief, and paradoxically, prolonged use also can create an extreme sensitivity to pain, called hyperalgesia.

9 Apr 2024

NeuM technology revolutionizes neuron labeling for neurodegenerative disease research

Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, along with stroke, are among the top three neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the malfunction and progressive degeneration of neurons, the nerve cells.

8 Apr 2024

Mitochondrial fusion critical for adult neurogenesis and brain circuit refinement

Nerve cells (neurons) are amongst the most complex cell types in our body. They achieve this complexity during development by extending ramified branches called dendrites and axons and establishing thousands of synapses to form intricate networks.

5 Apr 2024

Human neuron model identifies potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease

Weill Cornell Medicine scientists have developed an innovative human neuron model that robustly simulates the spread of tau protein aggregates in the brain-;a process that drives cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.

5 Apr 2024

Unlocking role of the cerebellum in reward-based learning

If you reward a monkey with some juice, it will learn which hand to move in response to a specific visual cue – but only if the cerebellum is functioning properly.

4 Apr 2024

Dartmouth-led research identifies unique brain areas for emotion regulation

Ever want to scream during a particularly bad day, but then manage not to? Thank the human brain and how it regulates emotions, which can be critical for navigating everyday life.

3 Apr 2024

JAX researchers develop a powerful platform to study human health conditions

In humans, the exact same mutation in a specific gene can produce widely different outcomes. It's a bit like adding the same amount of salt to different recipes-;the effect on the finished dish can be quite different, depending on the mix of other ingredients.

3 Apr 2024

DNA repair process key to memory formation, study finds

Study reveals that learning triggers a series of molecular events including DNA damage and repair in hippocampal neurons, mediated by TLR9, crucial for memory formation.

31 Mar 2024

Novel treatment approach to halt epilepsy progression identified

Only a very small percentage of neurons show changes after an epileptic seizure in mice, but these alterations can be permanent and trigger future seizures that can affect the whole brain and lead to impaired cognition, like memory and learning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

22 Mar 2024