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.

Imagination can help overcome fear and anxiety-related disorders, shows study

Imagine a barking dog, a furry spider or another perceived threat and your brain and body respond much like they would if you experienced the real thing.

11 Dec 2018

Avoidant grievers unconsciously monitor and block mind-wandering contents, study shows

People who are grieving a major loss, such as the death of a spouse or a child, use different coping mechanisms to carry on with their lives. Psychologists have been able to track different approaches, which can reflect different clinical outcomes.

11 Dec 2018

Standardizing feeding practices improves growth trends for micro-preemies

Standardizing feeding practices, including the timing for fortifying breast milk and formula with essential elements like zinc and protein, improves growth trends for the tiniest preterm infants, according to Children's research presented during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 2018 Scientific Symposium.

11 Dec 2018

Sprayable gel could help prevent recurrences of cancer after surgery

Many people who are diagnosed with cancer will undergo some type of surgery to treat their disease -- almost 95 percent of people with early-diagnosed breast cancer will require surgery and it's often the first line of treatment for people with brain tumors, for example.

11 Dec 2018

Slow-growing type of glioma may be vulnerable to immunotherapy, suggests study

Immunotherapy has proved effective in treating a number of cancers, but brain tumors have remained stubbornly resistant.

11 Dec 2018

Ezogabine treatment reduces motor neuron excitability in ALS patients, study shows

Brian Wainger, MD, PhD, of the Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital presented initial, top-level results of a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial of ezogabine (also called retigabine) on December 9 at the Motor Neurone Disease Association annual meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.

11 Dec 2018

New UGA study points to optimal hypertension treatment for stroke patients

Aggressive treatment of hypertension in stroke patients could do more harm than good in the long term, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Georgia.

10 Dec 2018

Caffeine plus another compound in coffee may fight Parkinson’s disease

Rutgers scientists have found a compound in coffee that may team up with caffeine to fight Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia - two progressive and currently incurable diseases associated with brain degeneration.

10 Dec 2018

Researchers explore how glial cells develop in the brain from neural precursor cells

Two types of cells are active in the brain: nerve cells and glial cells. The latter have long been regarded primarily as supportive cells, but it is increasingly recognized that they play an active role in the communication between neurons in the brain.

10 Dec 2018

Experts address sleep disorders following traumatic brain injury

Disorders of sleep are some of the most common problems experienced by patients after traumatic brain injury. It is important to recognize and treat these problems early to allow for optimal cognitive recovery, but because they are so common, the importance of treating them is often underestimated.

10 Dec 2018

Scientists find answers to how cancer spreads

How does cancer spread? While studying human brain tumor cells, a team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre found some answers to this crucial, yet so far unanswered question.

10 Dec 2018

High-intensity interval exercise could help combat cognitive dysfunction in obese people

It's fast-paced, takes less time to do, and burns a lot of calories. High-intensity interval exercise is widely recognized as the most time-efficient and effective way to exercise.

10 Dec 2018

Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca open new Functional Genomics Centre

Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca have announced today (Monday) that they are opening a new center in the UK, dedicated to realizing the full potential of functional genomics in the discovery and development of new drugs for patients with cancer.

10 Dec 2018

Episodic memory tests help in predicting brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease

Use of two episodic memory tests help in predicting brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease, as indicated by a study carried out at the University of Helsinki and the University of California. Researchers suggest that comprehensive use of memory tests could improve the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.

10 Dec 2018

Genes play a role in physical activity and sleep

Time spent sitting, sleeping and moving is determined in part by our genes, University of Oxford researchers have shown.

10 Dec 2018

Statins associated with low risk of side effects

The cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins have demonstrated substantial benefits in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots (ischemic strokes) in at-risk patients.

10 Dec 2018

Novel nanowire memristor to artificially reproduce functions of biological synapses

Emulating and understanding the human brain is one of the most important challenges for modern technology: on the one hand, the ability to artificially reproduce the processing of brain signals is one of the cornerstones for the development of artificial intelligence, while on the other the understanding of the cognitive processes at the base of the human mind is still far away.

10 Dec 2018

Activating brain region could revive the urge to socialize among opioid addicts

One of the many painful and challenging aspects of the US opioid crisis is that people abusing opioids often isolate themselves from family and friends, making it difficult for loved ones to help people on a path towards recovery.

10 Dec 2018

Novel therapeutic targets based on biology of aging show promise for Alzheimer's disease

A scientific strategy that explores therapeutic targets based on the biology of aging is gaining ground as an effective approach to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the December 7, 2018 online issue of Neurology.

10 Dec 2018

Neuronal activity in the brain allows prediction of risky or safe decisions

Full risk or preferably the safe option? Based on the neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, it is possible to predict what action will be chosen next: If the activity of specific neurons remains low, a risk will be taken again at the next opportunity.

9 Dec 2018