Nerve News and Research

RSS

Gene that could affect the progress of ALS discovered

Researchers from the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University have successfully found a gene that could work towards accelerating the progression of ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The study titled, "The loss of TBK1 kinase activity in motor neurons or in all cell types differentially impacts ALS disease progression in SOD1 mice," was published in the latest issue of the journal Neuron.

29 Mar 2020

Genetic mutation found to improve cognitive flexibility in mice

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have discovered in mice what they believe is the first known genetic mutation to improve cognitive flexibility--the ability to adapt to changing situations.

27 Mar 2020

Removing a gene prevents Type 1 diabetes in mice by disguising beta cells

Removing a gene from the cells that produce insulin prevents mice from developing Type 1 diabetes by sparing the cells an attack from their own immune system, a new UW-Madison study shows.

26 Mar 2020

Deleting a gene prevents Type 1 diabetes in mice by disguising insulin-producing cells

Scientists have innovated a potential method of preventing Type 1 diabetes in those at high risk.

26 Mar 2020

Novel PET/CT systems provide quantitative assessment of brain stem nuclei in patients with hearing loss

Novel, fully digital, high-resolution positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging of small brain stem nuclei can provide clinicians with valuable information concerning the auditory pathway in patients with hearing impairment, according to a new study published in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

25 Mar 2020

Novel imaging technique sheds light on Alzheimer's disease

To understand what happens in the brain when Alzheimer's disease develops, researchers need to be able to study the molecular structures in the neurons affected by Alzheimer's disease.

25 Mar 2020

Research team identifies a molecule that directs neurons

The habenula is a small region at the centre of the brain, but is crucial for people's lives. It is made up of groups of nerve cells that control the "neurotransmitters" of the brain, that is to say substances like dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin.

24 Mar 2020

Drebrin autoantibodies trigger epilepsy

Certain forms of epilepsy are accompanied by inflammation of important brain regions. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now identified a mechanism that explains this link.

24 Mar 2020

Spinal stabilization exercise program designed by Lithuanian scientists is 3 times more efficient

With the significant part of the global population forced to work from home, the occurrence of lower back pain may increase. Lithuanian scientists have devised a spinal stabilization exercise program for managing lower back pain for people who perform a sedentary job.

23 Mar 2020

Scientists discover new genetic editing powers in squid

Revealing yet another super-power in the skillful squid, scientists have discovered that squid massively edit their own genetic instructions not only within the nucleus of their neurons, but also within the axon -- the long, slender neural projections that transmit electrical impulses to other neurons.

23 Mar 2020

Study sheds light on myelin's role in 'chemobrain' and multiple sclerosis

Scientists have discovered that myelin is not as metabolically inert as has previously been thought.

23 Mar 2020

Neuroscientists investigate how the brain controls the voice

Bats are famous for their sonar-based navigation. They use their extremely sensitive hearing for orientation, emitting ultrasound noises and receiving an image of their surroundings based on the echo.

22 Mar 2020

Study uncovers a new childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder

A study has uncovered a new neurodegenerative disorder in which children experience developmental regression and severe epilepsy.

21 Mar 2020

Genetically modified neurons could enhance function of clinical implants

A team has genetically reprogrammed neurons that could enhance electrical implant function used in various clinical scenarios.

20 Mar 2020

Immunotherapy treatment shows promise for some patients with advanced rare cancers

A study conducted by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated acceptable toxicity and anti-tumor activity in patients with four types of advanced, hard-to-treat rare cancers.

20 Mar 2020

Staying positive and managing stress amid the coronavirus crisis

With all the news about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic circulating online, stress levels are rising. Most countries that are shaken by the virus outbreak have imposed lockdowns, in attempts to curb the disease spread.

19 Mar 2020

Psychosis may be caused by problems with specialized nerve cells

A new Japanese study in mice published in the journal Nature indicates that the cause of the profound mental disturbance termed psychosis could be due to defects in the functioning of specialized nerve cells deep inside the brain, and due to some types of learning behavior. This could help understand how delusions arise in psychosis or schizophrenia, and eventually to develop therapies for these conditions.

18 Mar 2020

Immune mechanism in the brain appears to play key role in the development of Alzheimer's

An immune reaction in the brain seems to play a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In a way, it "adds fuel to the fire" and apparently causes an inflammation that, in a sense, keeps kindling itself. The study has now been published in the journal Cell Reports.

18 Mar 2020

Women experience more chest pain, but lesser artery narrowing than men

Women with coronary artery disease that reduces blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle (ischemia) have significantly more chest pain caused by plaque build-up, yet less extensive disease as compared with men, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology.

18 Mar 2020

Engineered botox more effective

A new study reports on an engineered botulinum neurotoxin (botox) that is more effective as well as safer to use in various medical procedures. The study was published in March 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

17 Mar 2020