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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 bionic hybrid neuro chip records brain cell activity at higher resolution

Brain functions are controlled by millions of brain cells. However, in order to understand how the brain controls functions, such as simple reflexes or learning and memory, we must be able to record the activity of large networks and groups of neurons.

26 Oct 2016

Novel approach to analyzing brain structures may help predict progression of Alzheimer's disease

Use of a novel approach to analyzing brain structure that focuses on the shape rather than the size of particular features may allow identification of individuals in early presymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease.

26 Oct 2016

Researchers use new gene-editing system to hasten quest to cure HIV+ patients

Researchers at UC San Francisco and the academically affiliated Gladstone Institutes have used a newly developed gene-editing system to find gene mutations that make human immune cells resistant to HIV infection.

26 Oct 2016

DHA supplements show potential to prevent early preterm births

Sophisticated analyses of two clinical trials — one in the U.S. and the other in the Australia — suggest that thousands of early preterm births — those at or before 34 weeks' gestation — could be prevented if pregnant women took daily docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements.

26 Oct 2016

Benefit and harm of tandem mass spectrometry screening for tyrosinaemia type 1 remain unclear

Tyrosinaemia type 1 is a rare, hereditary metabolic disease that, if left untreated, can already lead to serious liver and kidney damage in infancy.

25 Oct 2016

Pitt-led researchers awarded NIH grant to improve risk assessment of cerebral aneurysms

Although cerebral aneurysms affect a substantial portion of the adult population, the risk of treatment including open brain surgery often outweighs the risks associated with rupture.

25 Oct 2016

Researchers find new way to rapidly awaken patients after general anesthesia

The use of general anesthesia for surgery has not changed fundamentally since it was first introduced 170 years ago. Patients are still left to come around in their own time following withdrawal of the drug.

25 Oct 2016

SIDS may be linked to inner ear damage and buildup of carbon dioxide

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be linked to the build up of carbon dioxide and existing inner ear damage according to a new study in the journal Neuroscience.

25 Oct 2016

New drug appears to decrease inflammation in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease

An experimental drug shows promise in treating Alzheimer's disease by preventing inflammation and removing abnormal protein clumps in the brain that are associated with the disease, suggests a study in mice presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2016 annual meeting.

25 Oct 2016

Scientists discover potential new target for protective vaccines against Chagas disease

Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development researchers have identified a potential new target for vaccines that activates a part of the immune system not previously known to be protective against Chagas disease, tuberculosis and AIDS, as well as other diseases.

25 Oct 2016

New wearable lower-limb robot exoskeleton may help improve gait rehabilitation process

Stroke and spinal cord injury patients often require gait rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk or to help strengthen their muscles. Wearable "robot-assisted training" is quickly emerging as a method that helps improve this rehab process.

25 Oct 2016

Study offers clues to help develop new treatments for cannabis use disorder

A new paper in Biological Psychiatry reports that chronic cannabis users have reduced levels of an enzyme called fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).

25 Oct 2016

Novel C. elegans worm strain could serve as tool for testing interventions against AD

Researchers from Yale-NUS College have partnered with researchers from the National University of Singapore and SingHealth Group to develop a novel Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm strain which expresses an amyloid beta protein fragment involved in the development of human Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

25 Oct 2016

Innovative surgery to repair phrenic nerve injury improves breathing function

A study led by UCLA researchers found that in people with breathing difficulties caused by phrenic nerve injury surgical reconstruction of the nerve can lead to significant improvement in breathing and an increase in regular physical activities.

25 Oct 2016

MTPConnect to provide $7.4 million funding for 14 national projects in medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector

MTPConnect - the Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre - today announced it will provide $7.4 million of funding over two years for 14 national projects in the medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector.

25 Oct 2016

Study finds increased risk of pregnancy-associated stroke among young women

Pregnancy was not found to raise the risk of stroke in older women, according to a study from Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian. In younger women, however, the risk of stroke was significantly higher for those who were pregnant.

25 Oct 2016

Researchers design small compounds with potential to correct mitochondrial dysfunction

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited disorder that leads to a gradual loss of motor neurons and, eventually, paralysis. The condition is caused by genetic mutations that disrupts cells' energy factories, called mitochondria.

25 Oct 2016

Highly caffeinated alcoholic drinks may induce changes in the adolescent brain similar to cocaine

Drinking highly caffeinated alcoholic beverages triggers changes in the adolescent brain similar to taking cocaine, and the consequences last into adulthood as an altered ability to deal with rewarding substances, according to a Purdue University study.

25 Oct 2016

Novel telemedicine speech therapy could improve dementia patient’s ability to recall words

A novel telemedicine speech therapy program for people with language problems due to dementia significantly improved their ability to recall words they had "lost," reports a new Northwestern Medicine study

25 Oct 2016

Salk researchers develop new computer program to measure blepharosplasm severity

If two clinicians observe the same patient with blepharospasm -- uncontrollable muscle contractions around the eye -- they'll often come away with two different conclusions on the severity of the patient's symptoms.

24 Oct 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

New bionic hybrid neuro chip records brain cell activity at higher resolution

Novel approach to analyzing brain structures may help predict progression of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers use new gene-editing system to hasten quest to cure HIV+ patients

DHA supplements show potential to prevent early preterm births

Benefit and harm of tandem mass spectrometry screening for tyrosinaemia type 1 remain unclear

Pitt-led researchers awarded NIH grant to improve risk assessment of cerebral aneurysms

Researchers find new way to rapidly awaken patients after general anesthesia

SIDS may be linked to inner ear damage and buildup of carbon dioxide

New drug appears to decrease inflammation in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease

Scientists discover potential new target for protective vaccines against Chagas disease

New wearable lower-limb robot exoskeleton may help improve gait rehabilitation process

Study offers clues to help develop new treatments for cannabis use disorder

Novel C. elegans worm strain could serve as tool for testing interventions against AD

Innovative surgery to repair phrenic nerve injury improves breathing function

MTPConnect to provide $7.4 million funding for 14 national projects in medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector

Study finds increased risk of pregnancy-associated stroke among young women

Researchers design small compounds with potential to correct mitochondrial dysfunction

Highly caffeinated alcoholic drinks may induce changes in the adolescent brain similar to cocaine

Novel telemedicine speech therapy could improve dementia patient’s ability to recall words

Salk researchers develop new computer program to measure blepharosplasm severity

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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