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.

Scientists reveal how manipulating novel target in the brain could lead to new therapies for depression

Northwestern Medicine scientists have shown how manipulating a novel target in the brain using gene therapy could lead to new treatments for depression.

12 Jul 2016

Researchers make successful vaccine formulation that targets proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease

With more than 7.5 million new cases of Alzheimer’s disease a year, the race to find a vaccine and effective treatment for dementia is growing by the day.

12 Jul 2016

Neuroscience studies provide evidence of positive impact of social interaction

Animals prefer contact with other animals rather than drug consumption. – This has been shown by neuroscience studies providing first-time evidence of the positive impact of social interaction and opening up new therapeutic avenues.

12 Jul 2016

Manipulation of gut microbes can reverse negative effects of high fat diet, researchers find

Did you know that your gut sends neural messages to the brain to tell it when it is full? Researchers at the University of Georgia, Binghamton University, and Pennsylvania State University have now found that chronic consumption of high fat foods disturbs these neural messages in rats by shifting the populations of bacteria that ordinarily reside inside the gut.

12 Jul 2016

Obese individuals may be more sensitive to overeating when presented with food cues

Obese mice are much more likely than lean mice to overeat in the presence of environmental cues, a behavior that could be related to changes in the brain, finds a new study by a Michigan State University neuroscientist.

12 Jul 2016

Increasing access to MRI scanning: an interview with Jane Kilkenny

MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, radio waves and field gradients to produce cross sectional images throughout the human body.

12 Jul 2016

New electronic tattoo can measure activity of muscle and nerve cells

A new temporary "electronic tattoo" developed by Tel Aviv University that can measure the activity of muscle and nerve cells researchers is poised to revolutionize medicine, rehabilitation, and even business and marketing research.

12 Jul 2016

Aelan's researchers develop novel epigenetic biomarker for diagnosis of AD

Aelan Cell Technologies today announced the development of a novel epigenetic biomarker. An early human clinical feasibility study has indicated that serological tests using the biomarker alongside other proprietary components developed by Aelan's researchers could potentially help physicians diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD).

12 Jul 2016

Neuroscientists identify two distinct populations of dopamine neurons involved in movement, reward

Two Northwestern University neuroscientists have identified the neurochemical signal likely missing in Parkinson's disease by being the first to discover two distinctly different kinds of neurons that deliver dopamine to an important brain region responsible for both movement and learning/reward behavior.

12 Jul 2016

Cryopreserved human umbilical cord patch shows promise in treating fetal spina bifida

A patch made from cryopreserved human umbilical cord may be a novel method for treating spina bifida in utero, according to researchers at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

12 Jul 2016

Leukemia drug increases brain dopamine, lowers toxic proteins linked to Parkinson's or dementia

A small phase I study provides molecular evidence that an FDA-approved drug for leukemia significantly increased brain dopamine and reduced toxic proteins linked to disease progression in patients with Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.

12 Jul 2016

FDA approves new ExAblate Neuro to treat patients with essential tremor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first focused ultrasound device to treat essential tremor in patients who have not responded to medication. ExAblate Neuro uses magnetic resonance (MR) images taken during the procedure to deliver focused ultrasound to destroy brain tissue in a tiny area thought to be responsible for causing tremors.

11 Jul 2016

Scientists create new eye technology for detecting Alzheimer's before onset of symptoms

Scientists may have overcome a major roadblock in the development of Alzheimer's therapies by creating a new technology to observe - in the back of the eye - progression of the disease before the onset of symptoms.

11 Jul 2016

Diversity of gut bacteria may affect brain health

The surprising and potentially wide-ranging effects that the levels and diversity of bacteria living in the gut have on overall human health, inflammation, and specifically brain health are the focus of a provocative interview with Dr. David Perlmutter in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, a journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

11 Jul 2016

New study identifies four subtypes of human insulin producing beta cells involved in diabetes

A new study led by nationally prominent stem cell scientist Markus Grompe, M.D., has determined the existence of at least four separate subtypes of human insulin producing beta cells that may be important in the understanding and treatment of diabetes. The findings were published online today in the journal Nature Communications.

11 Jul 2016

TBI with LOC linked to late-life neurodegeneration but not Alzheimer's disease

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a loss of consciousness (LOC) may be associated with later development of Parkinson's disease but not Alzheimer's disease or incident dementia, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Washington School of Medicine.

11 Jul 2016

Scientists succeed in restoring multiple key aspects of vision in mice

Experiments conducted under the leadership of a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator have succeeded, for the first time, in restoring multiple key aspects of vision in mammals.

11 Jul 2016

New home-based intervention aims to improve health outcomes of children of South Asian immigrants

More than one-third of Bronx residents are born outside of the United States. Often separated from family, challenged by language barriers, unfamiliar with health resources, and burdened by poverty, they are at high risk for health problems. And these risks extend to their young children.

11 Jul 2016

Scientists discover network of flows that distribute messenger substances in the brain

We have all bumped our heads at some point, and such incidents are usually harmless. This is thanks to fluid-filled chambers in our brain that offset minor knocks and jolts and provide padding for sensitive components of our nervous system.

11 Jul 2016

Connectome imaging could help predict severity of language deficits after stoke

Loss or impairment of the ability to speak is one of the most feared complications of stroke--one faced by about 20% of stroke patients. Language, as one of the most complex functions of the brain, is not seated in a single brain region but involves connections between many regions.

11 Jul 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists reveal how manipulating novel target in the brain could lead to new therapies for depression

Researchers make successful vaccine formulation that targets proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroscience studies provide evidence of positive impact of social interaction

Manipulation of gut microbes can reverse negative effects of high fat diet, researchers find

Obese individuals may be more sensitive to overeating when presented with food cues

Increasing access to MRI scanning: an interview with Jane Kilkenny

New electronic tattoo can measure activity of muscle and nerve cells

Aelan's researchers develop novel epigenetic biomarker for diagnosis of AD

Neuroscientists identify two distinct populations of dopamine neurons involved in movement, reward

Cryopreserved human umbilical cord patch shows promise in treating fetal spina bifida

Leukemia drug increases brain dopamine, lowers toxic proteins linked to Parkinson's or dementia

FDA approves new ExAblate Neuro to treat patients with essential tremor

Scientists create new eye technology for detecting Alzheimer's before onset of symptoms

Diversity of gut bacteria may affect brain health

New study identifies four subtypes of human insulin producing beta cells involved in diabetes

TBI with LOC linked to late-life neurodegeneration but not Alzheimer's disease

Scientists succeed in restoring multiple key aspects of vision in mice

New home-based intervention aims to improve health outcomes of children of South Asian immigrants

Scientists discover network of flows that distribute messenger substances in the brain

Connectome imaging could help predict severity of language deficits after stoke

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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