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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.

Scientists develop new approach using MRI to predict psychosis in high-risk patients

By using images of the brain to look at how its outer surface is folded on itself, researchers can predict which high-risk patients will develop psychosis with more than 80 per cent accuracy.

26 Apr 2018

New noninvasive technique uses blood test to detect brain tumor biomarkers

Taking a biopsy of a brain tumor is a complicated and invasive surgical process, but a team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis is developing a way that allows them to detect tumor biomarkers through a simple blood test.

26 Apr 2018

Study suggests link between regular mid-day naps and neurocognitive function in teens

A University of Delaware researcher investigated the relationship between midday-napping behaviors and neurocognitive function in early adolescents and found some keys to helping the teens battle fatigue.

26 Apr 2018

Drinking kefir may have positive effect on blood pressure by promoting brain-gut communication

Drinking kefir may have a positive effect on blood pressure by promoting communication between the gut and brain. Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk beverage known to help maintain the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.

26 Apr 2018

Scientists improve growth of 3d brain models to better understand autism, dementia, schizophrenia

Salk Institute scientists recently have developed a method to make micro brain structures in the lab. These microbrain tissues are designated to be used in research for treatment of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.

26 Apr 2018

FDA re-examining safety of new drug approved for Parkinson’s disease psychosis

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking again at the safety of a drug Nuplazid that was approved earlier in 2016. This is the only drug that has been approved for the treatment of psychiatric manifestations such as hallucinations and delusions that are associated with Parkinson's disease.

26 Apr 2018

Study shows link between restless legs syndrome symptoms and brain structure

People with restless legs syndrome may have changes in a portion of the brain that processes sensory information, according to a study published in the April 25, 2018, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Apr 2018

Exploiting rabies virus machinery to usher Parkinson's disease drug directly to the brain

The rabies virus wreaks havoc on the brain, triggering psychosis and death. To get where it needs to go, the virus must first trick the nervous system and cross the blood brain barrier -- a process that makes it of interest in drug design.

25 Apr 2018

Caffeine during pregnancy - babies 66 percent more likely to become overweight

A new study has shown that babies carry a 30 percent increased risk of being overweight when they are exposed to two cups of coffee daily while within the mother’s womb. If the mothers were consuming more than three cups of coffee a day while they were pregnant, the babies were 66 percent more likely to become overweight.

25 Apr 2018

Maternal binge drinking may make offspring more vulnerable to mood problems and alcohol abuse

Binge drinking by pregnant and lactating mothers can impair the mental health of their offspring, reports a study published today in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

25 Apr 2018

Why are Antibiotics Overprescribed for Meningitis Treatment?

Meningitis is a relatively rare disease, with our estimates for the incidence of meningitis in the UK being about 3.2 cases of meningitis per 100,000 adults. Crucially, bacterial meningitis is linked to significant morbidity and mortality - up to 30% mortality in pneumococcal meningitis cases.

25 Apr 2018

Viruses can exploit a suprising weakness of brain cells to spark hydrocephalus

Viruses may spark hydrocephalus by exploiting a suprising weakness of cells that circulate fluid in the brain, says a new study by Duke University scientists.

25 Apr 2018

HBP researchers develop new tool to examine role of genes in disease-relevant brain regions

Elucidating the way from genes to cognition requires detailed insight into how anatomical areas with specific gene activities contribute to brain function and dysfunction. Up to now, the scientific community has developed many separate brain atlases for different modalities and scales.

25 Apr 2018

Radiofrequency ablation: A new, emerging procedure burns cancer cells

Some 80,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a brain tumor this year according to the American Brain Tumor Association.

25 Apr 2018

Key signaling protein in Huntington's disease found to have deleterious effects on heart function, shows study

Researchers investigating a key signaling protein in Huntington's disease describe deleterious effects on heart function, going beyond the disease's devastating neurological impact.

25 Apr 2018

Study explains how colon cancer cells spread to the liver

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The main cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer is liver metastasis, with nearly 70% of patients eventually developing a liver tumor.

25 Apr 2018

Salk researchers develop new glioblastoma model using gene-edited organoids

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incredibly deadly brain cancer and presents a serious black box challenge. It's virtually impossible to observe how these tumors operate in their natural environment and animal models don't always provide good answers.

25 Apr 2018

Study explains why intense exercise curbs appetite

Ever wonder why intense exercise temporarily curbs your appetite? In research described in today's issue of PLOS Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers reveal that the answer is all in your head - more specifically, your arcuate nucleus.

25 Apr 2018

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help children with autism manage emotional challenges

New research from York University's Faculty of Health shows cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children with autism manage not only anxiety but other emotional challenges, such as sadness and anger.

24 Apr 2018

MGH researchers identify risk factors for drug overdose in youth with substance use disorders

A team of Massachusetts General Hospital investigators has identified factors that may increase the risk of drug overdose in adolescents and young adults. In their report published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the researchers describe finding that more than a quarter of those seeking treatment at Addiction Recovery Management Service, an MGH-based outpatient substance-use-disorder treatment program for youth ages 14 to 26, had a history of at least one overdose.

24 Apr 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists develop new approach using MRI to predict psychosis in high-risk patients

New noninvasive technique uses blood test to detect brain tumor biomarkers

Study suggests link between regular mid-day naps and neurocognitive function in teens

Drinking kefir may have positive effect on blood pressure by promoting brain-gut communication

Scientists improve growth of 3d brain models to better understand autism, dementia, schizophrenia

FDA re-examining safety of new drug approved for Parkinson’s disease psychosis

Study shows link between restless legs syndrome symptoms and brain structure

Exploiting rabies virus machinery to usher Parkinson's disease drug directly to the brain

Caffeine during pregnancy - babies 66 percent more likely to become overweight

Maternal binge drinking may make offspring more vulnerable to mood problems and alcohol abuse

Why are Antibiotics Overprescribed for Meningitis Treatment?

Viruses can exploit a suprising weakness of brain cells to spark hydrocephalus

HBP researchers develop new tool to examine role of genes in disease-relevant brain regions

Radiofrequency ablation: A new, emerging procedure burns cancer cells

Key signaling protein in Huntington's disease found to have deleterious effects on heart function, shows study

Study explains how colon cancer cells spread to the liver

Salk researchers develop new glioblastoma model using gene-edited organoids

Study explains why intense exercise curbs appetite

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help children with autism manage emotional challenges

MGH researchers identify risk factors for drug overdose in youth with substance use disorders

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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