Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

University of Michigan Stroke Program study examines use of tPA in stroke patients

Millions of Americans take aspirin or other drugs every day to reduce their risk of heart attacks or other problems caused by blood clots.

14 Mar 2013

Single-fiber endoscope improves resolution fourfold

Engineers at Stanford have demonstrated a high-resolution endoscope that is as thin as a human hair with a resolution four times better than previous devices of similar design.

14 Mar 2013

Study findings show survivors of ruptured aneurysm have decreased quality of life

Ten years after stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm of the brain, surviving patients have persistent difficulties in several areas affecting quality of life, reports a study in the March issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

14 Mar 2013

Stimulating brain using magnetic stimulation may improve cognitive function, say scientists

Cognitive impairments are disabling for individuals with schizophrenia, and no satisfactory treatments currently exist. These impairments affect a wide range of cognition, including memory, attention, verbal and motor skills, and IQ.

14 Mar 2013

New procedure to treat pseudotumor cerebri

A team of interventional neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins reports wide success with a new procedure to treat pseudotumor cerebri, a rare but potentially blinding condition marked by excessive pressure inside the skull, caused by a dangerous narrowing of a vein located at the base of the brain.

13 Mar 2013

Brain imaging can detect tiny lesions that may provide target for treating people with mTBI: Study

Brain imaging soon after mild traumatic brain injury or mild concussion can detect tiny lesions that may eventually provide a target for treating people with mTBI, according to a study released today and that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013.

13 Mar 2013

Biomedical professor details research progress toward reading, writing neural code

Despite many remarkable discoveries in the field of neuroscience during the past several decades, researchers have not been able to fully crack the brain's "neural code."

13 Mar 2013

Eplerenone may also reduce risk of heart failure, shows REMINDER trial

The prescription drug eplerenone appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure after a heart attack by more than one-third, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2013

New computer-based process helps diagnose conditions that lead to concussion-related injuries

Concussions can occur in sports and in combat, but health experts do not know precisely which jolts, collisions and awkward head movements during these activities pose the greatest risks to the brain. To find out, Johns Hopkins engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries.

13 Mar 2013

Research findings could lead to new sleep therapies to improve memory disorders

A team of sleep researchers led by UC Riverside psychologist Sara C. Mednick has confirmed the mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate memory and found that a commonly prescribed sleep aid enhances the process.

13 Mar 2013

Stem cells from patient’s own fat may deliver new treatments to glioblastoma

In laboratory studies, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient's own fat may have the potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after the surgical removal of a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor.

13 Mar 2013

Restored Hearing to launch clinical trials to find cure for permanent tinnitus

Restored Hearing, a company established by physics students from University College Dublin and the University of Edinburgh, is preparing to launch a series of clinical trials in Edinburgh to see if its 'sound therapy' for temporary tinnitus can be used to treat a more serious permanent 'ringing in the ears'.

13 Mar 2013

Telemedicine house calls may be comparable to in-person care for people with Parkinson’s

A small study of 20 people with Parkinson’s disease suggests that “virtual house calls” using Web-based video conferencing provide clinical benefits comparable to in-person physician office visits, while saving patients and their caregivers time and travel.

12 Mar 2013

Patient awareness during general anaesthesia thought to be low

The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) today publish initial findings from a major study which looked at how many patients experienced accidental awareness during general anaesthesia.

12 Mar 2013

Sleep problems may be indicator of early Alzheimer's disease

Sleep is disrupted in people who likely have early Alzheimer's disease but do not yet have the memory loss or other cognitive problems characteristic of full-blown disease, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report March 11 in JAMA Neurology.

12 Mar 2013

Results from Orion Pharma’s ORM-12741 phase IIa study on AD

A new drug may improve memory problems in people with moderate Alzheimer's disease, according to a phase IIa study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013. The drug is called ORM-12741.

12 Mar 2013

Darapladib can significantly reduce leaks in the blood brain barrier

A research team led by Robert Nagele, PhD, of the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-School of Osteopathic Medicine, has demonstrated that the anti-atherosclerosis drug darapladib can significantly reduce leaks in the blood brain barrier.

12 Mar 2013

Buphenyl may protect memory and prevent progression of Alzheimer's

Buphenyl, an FDA-approved medication for hyperammonemia, may protect memory and prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

12 Mar 2013

Study shows brain areas undergo measureable volume loss after concussion

A single concussion may cause lasting structural damage to the brain, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

12 Mar 2013

Study identifies why prazosin may cause lightheadedness and fainting

A new study led by a Canadian research team has identified the reason why prazosin, a drug commonly used to reduce high blood pressure, may cause lightheadedness and possible fainting upon standing in patients with normal blood pressure who take the drug for other reasons, such as the treatment of PTSD and anxiety.

12 Mar 2013