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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.

Link between endocannabinoids and exercise could lead to better treatment for depression

Researchers know exercise improves mood for people with depression, but there are still questions about exactly how it makes people feel better.

14 Aug 2019

Nanotechnology could boost stem cell transplantation research

Nanotechnology developed at Rutgers University-New Brunswick could boost research on stem cell transplantation, which may help people with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, other neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system injuries.

14 Aug 2019

Alzheimer’s disease risk gene is involved in synaptic transmission

A study published today in the journal Cell Reports sheds new light on how the CD2AP gene may enhance Alzheimer's disease susceptibility.

14 Aug 2019

Greater blood pressure control associated with fewer adverse changes in the brain

For adults with high blood pressure, greater blood pressure control than what's currently considered standard is associated with fewer adverse changes of the brain, which could mean lower risks of dementia and cognitive impairment, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

14 Aug 2019

New automated tool maps the movement of particles inside cells

Scientists have developed an automated tool for mapping the movement of particles inside cells that may accelerate research in many fields, a new study in eLife reports.

14 Aug 2019

Nanotube fibers used to rewire damaged hearts

Thin, flexible fibers made of carbon nanotubes have now proven able to bridge damaged heart tissues and deliver the electrical signals needed to keep those hearts beating.

13 Aug 2019

Using cannabis and opioids for pain increases mental health issues

Opioid misuse has become a significant public health problem. Despite efforts to control its use, opioid is still the most widely prescribed class of medicines. Now, a new study shows that when adults mix prescription opioids for pain with marijuana or cannabis, they report higher rates of anxiety and depression symptoms.

13 Aug 2019

Bile pigment may play an unexpected role in protecting the brain

In studies in mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have found that bilirubin, a bile pigment most commonly known for yellowing the skin of people with jaundice, may play an unexpected role in protecting brain cells from damage from oxidative stress.

From Johns Hopkins Medicine 13 Aug 2019

Beta amyloid structure mapped in new Alzheimer’s research

In search of a possible cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), scientists have found out the molecular structure of a type of protein called beta amyloid that accumulates within brain cells, eventually killing them. This could help understand how to prevent these abnormal proteins from forming, leading to a cure or treatment for this killer disease.

13 Aug 2019

Neuronal gene mutations may be linked to seizures associated with Long QT Syndrome

Researchers identified a gene in fruit flies that helps prevent the hyperexcitability of specific neurons that trigger seizures. In humans, mutations in the gene may be linked to seizures associated with Long QT Syndrome.

From PLOS ONE 13 Aug 2019

Oligodendrocytes play key role in determining individual’s resilience to stress

Exposure to violence, social conflict, and other stressors increase risk for psychiatric conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

13 Aug 2019

Antibody target implicated in neuropsychiatric symptoms of lupus discovered

Researchers have identified a specific target of antibodies that are implicated in the neuropsychiatric symptoms of lupus, according to human research published in JNeurosci.

From Society for Neuroscience 13 Aug 2019

Estrogen could be viable treatment option for Parkinson's patients

Brain-selective estrogen treatment improves the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in male mice, according to new research published in JNeurosci. These findings may help explain the sex differences in Parkinson’s disease and could lead to estrogen-based treatments.

From Society for Neuroscience 13 Aug 2019

New research suggests another possible mechanism for Alzheimer’s

Neurofibrillary plaques and tau protein are among the most widely known pathological entities characterizing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but new research at the University of California, Riverside, has come up with another plausible explanation for this debilitating disorder.

13 Aug 2019

Hookah smoking not a safe option, finds new study

With the decline in cigarette smoking, students have taken to other ‘safer’ forms of smoking, especially hookah smoking. However, a pioneering study shows that a single puff from a hookah exposes the smoker to as high a level of certain toxins as an entire cigarette does!

13 Aug 2019

Tissue model of Alzheimer's mimics beta-amyloid's effects on blood-brain barrier

Beta-amyloid plaques, the protein aggregates that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, disrupt many brain functions and can kill neurons. They can also damage the blood-brain barrier — the normally tight border that prevents harmful molecules in the bloodstream from entering the brain.

13 Aug 2019

Effects of edible marijuana studied in mice

Researchers have studied the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in food albeit in mice. THC is the main component that causes the psychological features seen with use of marijuana. Laboratory mice were given dough containing THC and the effects of the concoction were studied on them. This was an attempt to see similar effects in humans after consuming marijuana laced edibles.

13 Aug 2019