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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.

ALS and frontotemporal dementia share genetic connections

Nearly half of all patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder, develop cognitive problems that affect memory and thinking.

9 Apr 2018

Study reveals how apoE4 gene confers risk for Alzheimer's disease in brain cells

Using human brain cells, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes discovered the cause of--and a potential solution for--the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, a gene called apoE4.

9 Apr 2018

Using biomimicry for faster detection of disease outbreaks

Our immune systems are made up of billions of white blood cells searching for signs of infections and foreign invaders, ready to raise the alarm.

9 Apr 2018

Using Cord Blood to Alleviate the Symptoms of Autism

Cord blood has been studied extensively for the treatment of hematological diseases such as cancer and sickle cell anemia, but is now in phase II trials for the alleviation of autism. Dr. Ann Smith, director of Smart Cells who provided the cord blood for the trial, discusses the research and it's potential.

9 Apr 2018

Using the Microbiome to Predict the Risk of Cirrhosis-Associated Hospitalization

The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that colonize the human body. Dr. Jasmohan Bajaj discusses the relationship between the microorganisms in the gut and cirrhosis, and how microbiome analysis can be used to predict the risk of cirrhosis-associated hospitalizations.

7 Apr 2018

Nano-photothermal neural stimulation method for patients with neurological disorders

A KAIST team presented a highly customizable neural stimulation method. The research team developed a technology that can print the heat pattern on a micron scale to enable the control of biological activities remotely.

6 Apr 2018

PET imaging agent may help predict effectiveness of depression treatment

A positron emission tomography imaging agent could show, ahead of time, whether a specific treatment is likely to be effective for major depressive disorder--a debilitating condition that affects more than 14 million Americans.

6 Apr 2018

Smartphone 'scores' can reliably reflect symptom severity in Parkinson's patients

Parkinson's disease, a progressive brain disorder, is often tough to treat effectively because symptoms, such as tremors and walking difficulties, can vary dramatically over a period of days, or even hours.

6 Apr 2018

Scientists develop indices that provide information about prognosis of cancers

Researchers from the School of Medicine in Ribeirão Preto, at the University of São Paulo, in collaboration with international groups, have developed indices that provide information about the prognosis of cancers, aid in the choice of the most appropriate therapy to be used and identify potential targets for the development of new drugs.

6 Apr 2018

New blood test can detect early indicators of Alzheimer's disease

There is, as yet, no cure for Alzheimer's disease. It is often argued that progress in drug research has been hampered by the fact that the disease can only be diagnosed when it is too late for an effective intervention.

6 Apr 2018

Discordance between brain regions could lead to attention deficit disorders

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and colleagues have discovered how two brain regions work together to maintain attention, and how discordance between the regions could lead to attention deficit disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

6 Apr 2018

Pregnant women’s fluoride exposure linked to lower IQ in babies, study shows

Pregnant women’s fluoride exposure is linked to lower IQ in their children at one- to three-years-old, according to a study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, and at levels commonly found in U.S. women, reports the Fluoride Action Network.

6 Apr 2018

Waking up “sleeping” stem cells in the brain could improve its ability to repair injury

Researchers have identified a new type of stem cell that could boost the brain’s ability to repair damage caused by brain injury or disease.

6 Apr 2018

New brain cells are added in elderly adult brains too

Scientists have long debated the fact that brains change with age and no new brain cells or neurons are added once an adult is fully grown. With age the number of neurons begins to decline leading to several problems with memory and cognition.

6 Apr 2018

Negative fateful life events appear to accelerate brain aging, study finds

Conflict, a death in the family, financial hardship and serious medical crises are all associated with accelerated physical aging. In a new study, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that such negative fateful life events -- or FLEs -- appear to also specifically accelerate aging in the brain.

5 Apr 2018

Searching for most appropriate genetic factors that contribute to alcohol sensitivity

Alcohol use disorder is a complex trait, both in its causes and characteristics. Individuals' sensitivity to alcohol can predict their risk of adverse alcohol outcomes like AUD. Further, AUD runs in families, reflecting in part a genetic component.

5 Apr 2018

Vitamin D blood test may have potential to rapidly diagnose bipolar disorder in children

A blood test may have the potential to speed accurate diagnosis - and proper treatment - of bipolar disorder in children, new research suggests.

5 Apr 2018

Meditation provides lasting cognitive gains, study shows

Gains in the ability to sustain attention developed through intensive meditation training are maintained up to seven years later, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.

5 Apr 2018

Researchers study how often healthcare providers prescribe anticholinergics for older adults

Anticholinergics are a class of medications that are often prescribed for allergies, lung disease, and urinary incontinence. They also often can increase health risks for older adults.

5 Apr 2018

Parkinson's patients who show depression symptoms may actually have demoralization, study says

People with Parkinson's disease who show signs of depression may actually have a condition called demoralization, according to a study published in the April 4, 2018, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. That study found demoralization may be common in Parkinson's disease.

5 Apr 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

ALS and frontotemporal dementia share genetic connections

Study reveals how apoE4 gene confers risk for Alzheimer's disease in brain cells

Using biomimicry for faster detection of disease outbreaks

Using Cord Blood to Alleviate the Symptoms of Autism

Using the Microbiome to Predict the Risk of Cirrhosis-Associated Hospitalization

Nano-photothermal neural stimulation method for patients with neurological disorders

PET imaging agent may help predict effectiveness of depression treatment

Smartphone 'scores' can reliably reflect symptom severity in Parkinson's patients

Scientists develop indices that provide information about prognosis of cancers

New blood test can detect early indicators of Alzheimer's disease

Discordance between brain regions could lead to attention deficit disorders

Pregnant women’s fluoride exposure linked to lower IQ in babies, study shows

Waking up “sleeping” stem cells in the brain could improve its ability to repair injury

New brain cells are added in elderly adult brains too

Negative fateful life events appear to accelerate brain aging, study finds

Searching for most appropriate genetic factors that contribute to alcohol sensitivity

Vitamin D blood test may have potential to rapidly diagnose bipolar disorder in children

Meditation provides lasting cognitive gains, study shows

Researchers study how often healthcare providers prescribe anticholinergics for older adults

Parkinson's patients who show depression symptoms may actually have demoralization, study says

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd 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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