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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 discover new role for autophagosomes in neurodegenerative diseases

Autophagosomes are at the center of attention, at least since the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded for research on autophagy in 2016. The much talked about autophagosomes are small membrane vesicles in charge of waste disposal to promote recycling of its components.

11 Apr 2017

Greebles may prove to be valuable tools in detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease

Unique graphic characters called Greebles may prove to be valuable tools in detecting signs of Alzheimer's disease decades before symptoms become apparent.

11 Apr 2017

New study finds link between neural tube defects in infants and neurodegenerative diseases

A new study has found a link between neurological birth defects in infants commonly found in pregnant women with diabetes and several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.

10 Apr 2017

History of early life abuse may affect concentration abilities

Does a history of abuse before the age of 18 affect later capacity to concentrate and stay focused? According to a new study Veterans with a history of physical or sexual abuse or witnessing family violence before the age of 18 have a reduced ability to concentrate compared to Veterans who were not abused

10 Apr 2017

Researchers develop blood test to detect intracranial bleeding in infants with abusive head trauma

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed and refined a blood test that could help clinicians identify infants who may have had bleeding of the brain as a result of abusive head trauma, sometimes referred to as shaken baby syndrome.

10 Apr 2017

Study uncovers novel role for cortical interneurons in coding of spatial information

Researchers from King's College London have discovered a specific class of inhibitory neurons in the cerebral cortex which plays a key role in how the brain encodes spatial information. The findings are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

10 Apr 2017

Penn State researchers develop nanoprobes to rapidly isolate rare cancer markers

A nanoscale product of human cells that was once considered junk is now known to play an important role in intercellular communication and in many disease processes, including cancer metastasis.

10 Apr 2017

UWM researchers receive $2.3 million grant to explore link between autism and air pollution

Could air pollution from traffic play a role in whether a child develops autism or ADHD? A team of investigators, led by UWM epidemiologist Amy Kalkbrenner, has landed a $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to further explore this connection.

10 Apr 2017

New research sheds light on movement of white blood cells to sites of infection

One of the mysteries of the living body is the movement of cells - not just in the blood, but through cellular and other barriers.

10 Apr 2017

Urban green spaces trigger beneficial changes in the brain of older adults, study finds

Walking between busy urban environments and green spaces triggers changes in levels of excitement, engagement and frustration in the brain, a study of older people has found.

10 Apr 2017

People with burnout symptoms react faster to negative sounds of voice, study reveals

Approximately every fourth working aged Finn experiences symptoms of burnout that include exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy and often also difficulties in concentration and memory.

10 Apr 2017

Researchers identify genetic cause of rare neurological movement disorder

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified the basis for how a single gene mutation can cause a rare neurological movement disorder known as dystonia.

10 Apr 2017

Weather-forecast tool can help improve assessment and treatment of newborns with asphyxia

UT Southwestern Medical Center pediatric researchers have harnessed an analytical tool used to predict the weather to evaluate the effectiveness of therapies to reduce brain injury in newborns who suffer oxygen deprivation during birth.

10 Apr 2017

Immunologists discover how rescue proteins delay ‘executioner’ machinery that kills damaged cells

A research team led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital immunologists has discovered how a set of proteins delays the "executioner" machinery that kills damaged or infected cells in a process called necroptosis.

7 Apr 2017

Neurons derived from precursor cells may regulate innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors

Neurons derived from two different types of precursor cells that later develop into neurons in the medial amygdala - one of the interconnected structures in the brain involved in emotion, motivation and memory - help to program innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors into the brain, research led by Children's National Health System indicates.

7 Apr 2017

Study offers new hope for early attack against Alzheimer's

Catch it early. Those are watchwords in the battle against a host of illnesses, from heart disease to cancer to Type 2 diabetes.

7 Apr 2017

Study finds thalamic DBS to be safe, effective treatment for young adults with Tourette syndrome

A surgical technique that sends electrical impulses to a specific area of the brain reduces the "tics," or involuntary movements and vocal outbursts, experienced by young adults with severe cases of Tourette syndrome, according to a new study led by investigators from NYU Langone Medical Center.

7 Apr 2017

Study identifies key mediator in learning process

The ability of the brain to respond and adapt to changes is scientifically called brain plasticity. This ability is the basis of all learning processes.

7 Apr 2017

BrainDx develops new measurement tool for precise diagnosis of ADHD and autism

Software company BrainDx (http://braindx.net/) announces a pioneering measurement tool to assist practitioners and researchers in differentiating between ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.

7 Apr 2017

Study shows how prefrontal cortex may teach hippocampus to differentiate goal-related memories

Neurons in the prefrontal cortex "teach" neurons in the hippocampus to "learn" rules that distinguish memory-based predictions in otherwise identical situations, suggesting that learning in the present helps guide learning in the future, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published April 5 in the journal Neuron.

7 Apr 2017

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists discover new role for autophagosomes in neurodegenerative diseases

Greebles may prove to be valuable tools in detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease

New study finds link between neural tube defects in infants and neurodegenerative diseases

History of early life abuse may affect concentration abilities

Researchers develop blood test to detect intracranial bleeding in infants with abusive head trauma

Study uncovers novel role for cortical interneurons in coding of spatial information

Penn State researchers develop nanoprobes to rapidly isolate rare cancer markers

UWM researchers receive $2.3 million grant to explore link between autism and air pollution

New research sheds light on movement of white blood cells to sites of infection

Urban green spaces trigger beneficial changes in the brain of older adults, study finds

People with burnout symptoms react faster to negative sounds of voice, study reveals

Researchers identify genetic cause of rare neurological movement disorder

Weather-forecast tool can help improve assessment and treatment of newborns with asphyxia

Immunologists discover how rescue proteins delay ‘executioner’ machinery that kills damaged cells

Neurons derived from precursor cells may regulate innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors

Study offers new hope for early attack against Alzheimer's

Study finds thalamic DBS to be safe, effective treatment for young adults with Tourette syndrome

Study identifies key mediator in learning process

BrainDx develops new measurement tool for precise diagnosis of ADHD and autism

Study shows how prefrontal cortex may teach hippocampus to differentiate goal-related memories

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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