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.

Hibernating ground squirrels offer clues to fight against stroke-induced brain damage

In the fight against brain damage caused by stroke, researchers have turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: hibernating ground squirrels.

17 Nov 2017

Groundbreaking study identifies protein as potential factor in cancer metastasis

U of G scientists have made a discovery that could reduce the spread of cancer by hindering a protein that binds cancer cells together and allows them to invade tissues.

17 Nov 2017

Experts identify mental exercise program that can reduce risk of dementia

Aging research specialists have identified, for the first time, a form of mental exercise that can reduce the risk of dementia.

17 Nov 2017

Drug used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective for Zika virus

A new collaborative study led by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and UC San Diego School of Medicine has found that a medication used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective for Zika virus.

17 Nov 2017

Brain astrocytes could play key role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Astrocytes, the supporting cells of the brain, could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. This is the first time researchers discovered a direct association between astrocytes and AD. Published in Stem Cell Reports, the study investigated the brain cell function of familial AD patients by using stem cell technologies.

17 Nov 2017

New dye could be used to observe electrical activity of neurons in the brain

Keele University researchers have designed a new dye that can be used to observe the electrical activity of neurons in the brain and could lead to finding a new and more efficient way of treating neurological diseases.

17 Nov 2017

Noninvasive brain imaging reveals surgical skills acquisition and expertise of trainees

While simulation platforms have been used to train surgeons before they enter an actual operating room (OR), few studies have evaluated how well trainees transfer those skills from the simulator to the OR.

17 Nov 2017

Research suggests new ways to mitigate impact of mistreatment at early age

Everyone has challenges of one kind or another. But research shows that mistreatment at an early age can have long-lasting and life-altering repercussions that could be passed to future generations.

17 Nov 2017

ATS debuts new video to highlight dangers of flavored tobacco

Educating the public about the dangers of tobacco addiction has long been a priority for the American Thoracic Society, which provides scientifically-supported arguments to counter Big Tobacco's marketing and lobbying efforts.

16 Nov 2017

New pain relievers reduce opiate overdose risk

Scientists on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed new opioid pain relievers that reduce pain on par with morphine but do not slow or stop breathing - the cause of opiate overdose.

16 Nov 2017

Scientists unveil pathology underlying optic nerve hypoplasia in children

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute (VTCRI) have revealed the pathology of cells and structures stricken by optic nerve hypoplasia, a leading cause of childhood blindness in developed nations.

16 Nov 2017

Separating side effects could pave way for safe, effective pain medications

Opioid pain relievers can be extremely effective in relieving pain, but can carry a high risk of addiction and ultimately overdose when breathing is suppressed and stops.

16 Nov 2017

Brazilian Zika epidemic could soon be over, say scientists

In 2016, news about the Zika virus in Brazil made the headlines in Europe for the first time. With approximately 65 million people affected, it is one of the largest epidemics in the last few years.

16 Nov 2017

Computerized speed of processing training results in decreased risk of dementia

Computerized brain-training is now the first intervention of any kind to reduce the risk of dementia among older adults.

16 Nov 2017

Virtual reality training may be effective alternative to standard therapy after stroke

Using virtual reality therapy to improve arm and hand movement after a stroke is equally as effective as regular therapy, according to a study published in the November 15, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Nov 2017

New research shows how a gene can fuel obesity in mice

Obesity is often attributed to a simple equation: People are eating too much and exercising too little. But evidence is growing that at least some of the weight gain that plagues modern humans is predetermined.

16 Nov 2017

Asymmetry in human brains may hold key to how we developed language skills

The pattern of asymmetry in human brains could be a unique feature of our species and may hold the key to explaining how we first developed language ability, experts say.

16 Nov 2017

Genetic diversity of tumor tissues can be barrier to precision medicine in gastric and esophageal cancers

A new study focused on describing genetic variations within a primary tumor, differences between the primary and a metastatic branch of that tumor, and additional diversity found in tumor DNA in the blood stream could help physicians make better treatment choices for patients with gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

15 Nov 2017

Researchers find that tiny brain region plays key role in social memory formation

Research by a group of scientists at the Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore have discovered that a tiny brain region plays a critical role in the formation of social memory and interaction.

15 Nov 2017

Heavy drinkers with history of TBI do not have worse drinking behavior, study finds

Head injury, which often damages brain regions overlapping with those involved in addictive behaviors, does not worsen drinking behavior in people with heavy alcohol use, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.

15 Nov 2017