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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.

New research uncovers how brain's capillary network controls blood flow, monitors neuronal activity

All it takes is the flip of a protein "switch" within the tiny wire-like capillaries of the brain to increase the blood flow that ensures optimal brain function.

25 Mar 2017

UVA researchers discover unexpected interaction between men's testes and immune system

The University of Virginia School of Medicine has again shown that a part of the body thought to be disconnected from the immune system actually interacts with it, and that discovery helps explain cases of male infertility, certain autoimmune diseases and even the failure of cancer vaccines.

25 Mar 2017

International consortium proposes new approach to diagnosing mental illnesses

A consortium of psychiatrists and psychologists from universities around the world, co-led by Stony Brook University, University of Minnesota and University of Notre Dame researchers, has proposed a new approach to diagnosing mental disorders.

25 Mar 2017

Health psychologists now treating gastrointestinal disorders strongly affected by stress

Health psychologists have begun treating gastrointestinal disorders that are strongly affected by stress, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, functional heartburn, functional dyspepsia and ulcerative colitis.

25 Mar 2017

Researchers find lower academic performance among children prenatally exposed to alcohol

Despite greater awareness of the dangers of prenatal exposure to alcohol, the rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders remain alarmingly high.

25 Mar 2017

Antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs can effectively treat diabetic nerve pain, research finds

A federal health agency has found certain antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs are among medications that effectively treat diabetic nerve pain.

25 Mar 2017

Researchers report discovery of new gene linked to Tau accumulation in AD

Tau pathology is one of the defining features of Alzheimer disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia in older age.

25 Mar 2017

New gene linked to Tau pathology

Investigators at Rush University Medical Center and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston reported the discovery of a new gene that is associated with susceptibility to a common form of brain pathology called Tau that accumulates in several different conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, certain forms of dementia and Parkinsonian syndromes as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy that occurs with repeated head injuries.

24 Mar 2017

Parasite's biological clock could help improve treatments for deadly sleeping sickness

The parasite that causes deadly sleeping sickness has its own biological clock that makes it more vulnerable to medications during the afternoon, according to international research that may help improve treatments for one of Africa's most lethal diseases.

24 Mar 2017

Study finds increased body fat in childhood brain cancer survivors

McMaster University researchers have discovered that while survivors of childhood brain tumours have a similar Body Mass Index (BMI) to healthy children with no cancer, they have more fat tissue overall, and especially around the abdomen.

24 Mar 2017

Researchers show shared genetic origin between ALS/MND and schizophrenia

Researchers have shown for the first time that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and schizophrenia have a shared genetic origin, indicating that the causes of these diverse conditions are biologically linked.

24 Mar 2017

Research findings could help understand how Parkinson's develops on molecular level

In a complex series of experiments they examined what the effects were of changing a single amino acid in the protein.

24 Mar 2017

New high-speed computational software could reveal deeper insights into neuronal function

Unlike experimental neuroscientists who deal with real-life neurons, computational neuroscientists use model simulations to investigate how the brain functions.

24 Mar 2017

MRI brain scans may help clinicians decide between CBT and drug treatment for depression

Researchers from Emory University have found that specific patterns of activity on brain scans may help clinicians identify whether psychotherapy or antidepressant medication is more likely to help individual patients recover from depression.

24 Mar 2017

Scientists achieve closest view of working nerve synapses using custom-built microscope

The brain hosts an extraordinarily complex network of interconnected nerve cells that are constantly exchanging electrical and chemical signals at speeds difficult to comprehend.

24 Mar 2017

Researchers describe set of observable characteristics linked to congenital Zika syndrome

Even as the Zika virus becomes more prevalent — the Centers for Disease Control reports that the number of U.S. infants born with microcephaly and other birth defects is 20 times over the normal rate — researchers are still trying to fully pin down the identifying consequences of the viral infection.

24 Mar 2017

Random DNA copying ‘mistakes’ account for most cancer mutations, study finds

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists report data from a new study providing evidence that random, unpredictable DNA copying "mistakes" account for nearly two-thirds of the mutations that cause cancer.

24 Mar 2017

Transgender college students more likely to experience negative consequences from drinking

A survey of more than 422,000 college freshmen found that students who identified as transgender were more likely than their cisgender peers to experience negative consequences from drinking, including memory blackouts, academic problems and conflicts such as arguments or physical fights.

24 Mar 2017

Scientists developing novel imaging techniques to provide immediate diagnoses for cancer patients

Neurosurgeons at The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), North America’s largest neurosurgical training program and scientists at The Arizona State University Biodesign Institute (ASU), in collaboration with Zeiss Microscopy are developing novel molecular nanoprobes and cutting-edge optical imaging techniques to provide immediate and specific diagnoses for cancer patients.

24 Mar 2017

SLU researchers aim to tackle diabetes and obesity by capturing benefits of exercise in pill form

With a series of new grants, Saint Louis University researchers will tackle the twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity by tapping into the potential of two nuclear receptors that control muscle metabolism.

24 Mar 2017

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

New research uncovers how brain's capillary network controls blood flow, monitors neuronal activity

UVA researchers discover unexpected interaction between men's testes and immune system

International consortium proposes new approach to diagnosing mental illnesses

Health psychologists now treating gastrointestinal disorders strongly affected by stress

Researchers find lower academic performance among children prenatally exposed to alcohol

Antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs can effectively treat diabetic nerve pain, research finds

Researchers report discovery of new gene linked to Tau accumulation in AD

New gene linked to Tau pathology

Parasite's biological clock could help improve treatments for deadly sleeping sickness

Study finds increased body fat in childhood brain cancer survivors

Researchers show shared genetic origin between ALS/MND and schizophrenia

Research findings could help understand how Parkinson's develops on molecular level

New high-speed computational software could reveal deeper insights into neuronal function

MRI brain scans may help clinicians decide between CBT and drug treatment for depression

Scientists achieve closest view of working nerve synapses using custom-built microscope

Researchers describe set of observable characteristics linked to congenital Zika syndrome

Random DNA copying ‘mistakes’ account for most cancer mutations, study finds

Transgender college students more likely to experience negative consequences from drinking

Scientists developing novel imaging techniques to provide immediate diagnoses for cancer patients

SLU researchers aim to tackle diabetes and obesity by capturing benefits of exercise in pill form

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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