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.

AbbVie and Voyager Therapeutics collaborate to develop new treatments for tauopathies

AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, and Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage gene therapy company, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive strategic collaboration and option agreement to develop and commercialize vectorized antibodies directed against tau for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

20 Feb 2018

Therapeutic target for glaucoma could have treatment ramifications for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

A therapeutic target to preserve vision in glaucoma patients could have treatment ramifications for age-related neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to findings released today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

20 Feb 2018

Brain's quality control process holds clues to obesity's roots

Deep in the middle of our heads lies a tiny nub of nerve cells that play a key role in how hungry we feel, how much we eat, and how much weight we gain. Around the clock, they produce a "grandfather" form of several hormones that help us regulate these crucial functions.

20 Feb 2018

Scientists explore connection between bad sleep habits and stiff blood vessels

What do bad sleep habits and stiff blood vessels have in common? Nothing good, say scientists exploring what appears to be a direct connection between a circadian clock that isn't working as it should and an enzyme that promotes inflammation working overtime.

20 Feb 2018

Experimental treatment improves invisible symptoms of a man with spinal cord injury

An experimental treatment that sends electrical currents through the spinal cord has improved "invisible" yet debilitating side effects for a B.C. man with a spinal cord injury.

19 Feb 2018

Study reveals functional dynamics of ion channels

Most ion channels are very selective about the ions, which may or may not pass through them. They may be conductive for potassium ions and non-conductive for sodium ions or vice versa.

19 Feb 2018

Father's stress affects the brain development of offspring, mice study shows

New research in mice has found that a father's stress affects the brain development of his offspring. This stress changes the father's sperm, which can then alter the brain development of the child. This new research provides a much better understanding of the key role that fathers play in the brain development of offspring.

19 Feb 2018

Researchers identify fifteen genes that determine our facial features

Researchers from KU Leuven and the universities of Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Penn State have identified fifteen genes that determine our facial features. The findings were published in Nature Genetics.

19 Feb 2018

Lab-grown cerebellar cells may help explain how ASD develops at molecular level

Increasing evidence has linked autism spectrum disorder with dysfunction of the brain's cerebellum, but the details have been unclear. In a new study, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital used stem cell technology to create cerebellar cells known as Purkinje cells from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic syndrome that often includes ASD-like features.

19 Feb 2018

Researchers uncover how excess calcium may influence development of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have found that excess levels of calcium in brain cells may lead to the formation of toxic clusters that are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease.

19 Feb 2018

Study sheds light on biology that guides behavior across different stages of life

Put 50 newborn worms in 50 separate containers, and they'll all start looking for food at roughly the same time. Like members of other species, microscopic C. elegans roundworms tend to act like other individuals their own age.

19 Feb 2018

Deletion of specific enzyme leads to improvement in memory and cognitive functions

A new study in mice has made a possible breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research. The team of researchers at the Cleveland Clinic has noted that deleting a single enzyme can reverse the deposition of harmful plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This could improve cognitive functions as demonstrated in lab mice. The study appeared this week in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

17 Feb 2018

New device could allow people with disabilities to live more independently, enhance their quality of life

A new study presented this week at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in Atlanta found that a person with a spinal cord injury could improve their ability to grip and move household objects by using an electrical stimulation device controlled by their own thoughts.

16 Feb 2018

Phonak expands its latest-generation Belong platform with Phonak Naída B, Phonak Sky B hearing aids

Phonak, the leading global innovator for hearing instruments and wireless communication solutions, today announces the extension of its latest-generation Belong platform with Phonak Naída™ B and Phonak Sky™ B hearing aids.

16 Feb 2018

Study could lead to new therapies to improve movement control in stroke survivors

New research published in The Journal of Physiology could open the door to new therapies to improve the movement of arms and hands of stroke survivors.

16 Feb 2018

Diplomats in Havana and their mysterious concussion-like symptoms

American diplomats who were posted to Havana were reported to have symptoms similar to concussions suffered after a head injury. This was despite the fact that none of them had had any head trauma. Initially it was speculated that they could have been victims to a “sonic attack” to their brains. However the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ruled out any such involvement last month.

16 Feb 2018

Inert gas may limit blast-induced brain injury

The inert gas has been used for the first time to try and reduce the impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by blasts such as those in conflict zones and terror attacks.

15 Feb 2018

Genetic risk score could help predict patient's quality of life after traumatic brain injury

A new study presented this week at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in Atlanta found that a genetic risk score could help predict a patient's quality of life after a traumatic brain injury. One day, physicians could have a simple, early method to forecast a patient's recovery and personalize therapy to maximize their quality of life down the road.

15 Feb 2018

Poor fitness levels increase the risk dementia, concludes study

A new study has added to the growing body of evidence that regular exercise improves brain health and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

15 Feb 2018

Amyloid protein may be transmitted through neurosurgical instruments, study suggests

Amyloid beta pathology - protein deposits in the brain - might have been transmitted by contaminated neurosurgical instruments, suggests a new UCL-led study.

15 Feb 2018

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

AbbVie and Voyager Therapeutics collaborate to develop new treatments for tauopathies

Therapeutic target for glaucoma could have treatment ramifications for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Brain's quality control process holds clues to obesity's roots

Scientists explore connection between bad sleep habits and stiff blood vessels

Experimental treatment improves invisible symptoms of a man with spinal cord injury

Study reveals functional dynamics of ion channels

Father's stress affects the brain development of offspring, mice study shows

Researchers identify fifteen genes that determine our facial features

Lab-grown cerebellar cells may help explain how ASD develops at molecular level

Researchers uncover how excess calcium may influence development of Parkinson’s disease

Study sheds light on biology that guides behavior across different stages of life

Deletion of specific enzyme leads to improvement in memory and cognitive functions

New device could allow people with disabilities to live more independently, enhance their quality of life

Phonak expands its latest-generation Belong platform with Phonak Naída B, Phonak Sky B hearing aids

Study could lead to new therapies to improve movement control in stroke survivors

Diplomats in Havana and their mysterious concussion-like symptoms

Inert gas may limit blast-induced brain injury

Genetic risk score could help predict patient's quality of life after traumatic brain injury

Poor fitness levels increase the risk dementia, concludes study

Amyloid protein may be transmitted through neurosurgical instruments, study suggests

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

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Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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