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.

Stress may induce neurotransmitter switching that contributes to chemical imbalances in the brain

Five years ago, a team of University of California San Diego neurobiologists published surprising findings describing how rats' brain cells adopted new chemical codes when subjected to significant changes in natural light exposure--much as humans suffer from "winter blues," the type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder.

24 Apr 2018

Imagined and real movements have similar brain mechanisms, research suggests

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that imagined movements can change our perception in the same way as real, executed movements do.

24 Apr 2018

Rehabilitation technique for stroke appears beneficial for multiple sclerosis patients

A rehabilitation technique originally developed for stroke has now been shown to also be effective for improving function for people with multiple sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease.

24 Apr 2018

Role of extrachromosomal pieces of DNA in cancer development and treatment resistance

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Response to standard-of-care treatment is poor, with a two-year survival rate of only 15 percent.

24 Apr 2018

Researchers design creative new approach to regenerate injured hearts

Heart disease is a major global health problem--myocardial infarction annually affects more than one million people in the U.S. alone, and there is still no effective treatment.

24 Apr 2018

Meningitis in Newborns: What to Look Out For

Claire is Evidence & Policy Manager at the UK and international charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). She discusses the signs and symptoms of meningitis in newborns, and the aims for the recent diagnostic eTool developed by the MRF.

24 Apr 2018

Visually guided walking paves way for better treatment for mobility impairments

Using new technologies to track how vision guides foot placement, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin come one step closer in determining what is going on in the brain while we walk, paving the way for better treatment for mobility impairments -- strokes, aging and Parkinson's -- and technology development -- prosthetics and robots.

24 Apr 2018

Researchers identify superior blood-based biomarker for assessing sports-related concussions

A high-sensitive blood test can aid concussed hockey players when it might be safe to return to play. In a study published by the journal Neurology, researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, has identified a superior blood-based biomarker for assessing subtle brain injury.

23 Apr 2018

Home-based treatment program offers robust and sustained relief for IBS patients

In the largest federally funded non-drug clinical trial for irritable bowel syndrome, patients with the most severe and persistent symptoms achieved robust and sustained relief by learning to control symptoms with minimal clinician contact. Led by University at Buffalo researchers in collaboration with colleagues at New York University and Northwestern University, the study was published online before print in Gastroenterology.

23 Apr 2018

Prenatal marijuana use linked to increased chance of low birth weights

With marijuana use during pregnancy on the rise, a new study led by the Colorado School of Public Health shows that prenatal cannabis use was associated with a 50 percent increased likelihood of low birth weight, setting the stage for serious future health problems including infection and time spent in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

23 Apr 2018

Promising cell study may offer new opportunities for treating Parkinson's disease

For the first-time there is the prospect of medical doctors and researchers being able to alleviate the serious symptoms that follow with Parkinson's disease.

23 Apr 2018

Exposure to toxin found in sheep may be linked to development of MS

Exposure to a toxin primarily found in sheep could be linked to the development of multiple sclerosis in humans, new research suggests.

23 Apr 2018

Hacking 'drug trafficking' system could increase effectiveness of diabetes treatment

Making tiny changes to existing diabetes treatments can alter how they interact with cells, and potentially make the medicines more effective.

23 Apr 2018

Clinical trial to examine stem cell therapy for treatment, prevention of complications after traumatic injury

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received funding through a public/private partnership for the first-ever clinical trial investigating a stem cell therapy for early treatment and prevention of complications after severe traumatic injury.

23 Apr 2018

Role of midbrain in encoding identity errors

When scientist Thorsten Kahnt was a high school student in Nuremberg, Germany, his friend Christian sported chin-length, curly brown hair. Then one day Christian appeared with newly buzzed hair, only half an inch long.

23 Apr 2018

Scientists examine how specific eating patterns could help fight cancer and obesity

What we eat plays a significant role in our health. The Experimental Biology 2018 meeting (EB 2018) will showcase new research into how diet could be used to fight cancer and how specific eating patterns can encourage weight loss.

23 Apr 2018

Studies offer leads for new approaches to treat neurological problems

Technological advances have ushered in a new era of discovery in neuroscience. The Experimental Biology 2018 meeting will feature an array of research findings on the brain and nervous system.

23 Apr 2018

Texas disability groups want a voice at the table in gun debate

A disability rights group in Texas sent out a survey last month, trying to figure out how many of its members became disabled due to gun violence. The group, ADAPT of Texas, said it’s an effort to collect data that will help inform Texas lawmakers on how they legislate guns.

23 Apr 2018

Study uncovers possible source of gender differences in migraines

Of the more than 38 million Americans who experience migraine headaches, 28 million are women. Compared to men, women also experience more frequent and severe migraines and don't respond as well to drug treatments.

23 Apr 2018

Researchers develop new vaccine to help people overcome bath salts abuse

Researchers have developed a vaccine for one of the most dangerous types of synthetic cathinones, or bath salts. The vaccine blunts the illegal stimulant's effects on the brain, which could help recovering drug users who experience a relapse.

23 Apr 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Stress may induce neurotransmitter switching that contributes to chemical imbalances in the brain

Imagined and real movements have similar brain mechanisms, research suggests

Rehabilitation technique for stroke appears beneficial for multiple sclerosis patients

Role of extrachromosomal pieces of DNA in cancer development and treatment resistance

Researchers design creative new approach to regenerate injured hearts

Meningitis in Newborns: What to Look Out For

Visually guided walking paves way for better treatment for mobility impairments

Researchers identify superior blood-based biomarker for assessing sports-related concussions

Home-based treatment program offers robust and sustained relief for IBS patients

Prenatal marijuana use linked to increased chance of low birth weights

Promising cell study may offer new opportunities for treating Parkinson's disease

Exposure to toxin found in sheep may be linked to development of MS

Hacking 'drug trafficking' system could increase effectiveness of diabetes treatment

Clinical trial to examine stem cell therapy for treatment, prevention of complications after traumatic injury

Role of midbrain in encoding identity errors

Scientists examine how specific eating patterns could help fight cancer and obesity

Studies offer leads for new approaches to treat neurological problems

Texas disability groups want a voice at the table in gun debate

Study uncovers possible source of gender differences in migraines

Researchers develop new vaccine to help people overcome bath salts abuse

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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