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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.

Study suggests how expression, function of nAChRs regulated in AD

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been pursued for decades as potential molecular targets to treat cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to their demonstrated role in processes underlying cognition such as synaptic facilitation, and theta and gamma wave activity.

20 Jun 2016

Brain imaging finds link between blood-brain barrier disruption and severity of bleeding after stroke therapy

In a study of stroke patients, investigators confirmed through MRI brain scans that there was an association between the extent of disruption to the brain's protective blood-brain barrier and the severity of bleeding following invasive stroke therapy. The results of the National Institutes of Health-funded study were published in Neurology.

20 Jun 2016

Diabetic mothers three times more likely to have anti-fetal brain autoantibodies

Mothers of children with autism and were diagnosed with metabolic conditions during pregnancy, particularly gestational and type 2 diabetes, were more likely to have anti-fetal brain autoantibodies in their blood compared to healthy women of children with autism.

20 Jun 2016

Researchers develop AI-powered systems to make pathologic diagnoses more accurate

Pathologists have been largely diagnosing disease the same way for the past 100 years, by manually reviewing images under a microscope. But new work suggests that computers can help doctors improve accuracy and significantly change the way cancer and other diseases are diagnosed.

20 Jun 2016

New research program seeks to elucidate traumatic memories of 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris

How will the traumatic events of the terrorist attacks of 13 November 2015 evolve in people's memories, whether collective or individual? How does individual memory feed on collective memory and vice versa?

20 Jun 2016

Decision-making dysfunction may be key contributor to movement disorder symptoms in Parkinson’s patients

UCLA researchers have discovered that people with Parkinson's disease have a form of impaired decision-making that may be a major contributor to the movement problems that characterize the disease.

17 Jun 2016

Training and learning improve perception, brain activity at old age

As a person ages, perception declines, accompanied by augmented brain activity. Learning and training may ameliorate age-related degradation of perception, but age-related brain changes cannot be undone. Rather, brain activity is enhanced even further, but for other reasons and with different outcomes.

17 Jun 2016

Cells grown from pluripotent stem cells can pair with heart muscle cells to stimulate contractions

Researchers at Johns Hopkins report that a type of lab-grown human nerve cells can partner with heart muscle cells to stimulate contractions.

17 Jun 2016

Dirty working environment can impact cognitive function of employees

A new study by a Florida State University researcher shows that both a lack of stimulation in the workplace and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees.

17 Jun 2016

Absence of one specific species of gut bacteria causes autism-related social deficits in mice

The absence of one specific species of gut bacteria causes social deficits in mice, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report June 16 in Cell. By adding this bacterial species back to the guts of affected mice, the researchers were able to reverse some of the mice's behavioral deficits, which are reminiscent of symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in humans.

17 Jun 2016

Natural molecule NAC could benefit patients with Parkinson's disease

The natural molecule, n-acetylcysteine (NAC), with strong antioxidant effects, shows potential benefit as part of the management for patients with Parkinson's disease, according to a study published today in the journal PLOS ONE.

17 Jun 2016

Mice study highlights vital role of liver in balancing fats and sugars

Sugar in the form of blood glucose provides essential energy for cells. When its usual dietary source — carbohydrates — is scarce, the liver can produce it with the aid of fat.

17 Jun 2016

Epilepsy in immediate family member may increase person’s chances of being diagnosed with autism

Having a first-degree relative with epilepsy may increase a person's risk of being diagnosed with autism, according to a study published in the June 15, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Jun 2016

Cerebral microbleeds linked to increased risk of physical, cognitive disability in MS patients

Leaky blood vessels in the brain called cerebral microbleeds are associated with an increased risk of physical and cognitive disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study by researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

17 Jun 2016

Tumour protein TP53 can locate DNA targets autonomously to prevent cancer

Geneticists from KU Leuven, Belgium, have shown that tumour protein TP53 knows exactly where to bind to our DNA to prevent cancer. Once bound to this specific DNA sequence, the protein can activate the right genes to repair damaged cells.

17 Jun 2016

Statins can lower infection risk by 58% in stroke patients

A Washington State University researcher has found that statin drugs can dramatically lower the risk of infections in stroke patients.

17 Jun 2016

Shire introduces third annual Excellence in ADHD Patient Group Awards

Shire plc today launches the third annual Excellence in ADHD Patient Group Awards celebrating outstanding work by patient advocacy organisations around the world that aim to improve the lives of people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

17 Jun 2016

Study sheds new light on how overeating may lead to more eating

Research is finally beginning to shed light on some of the reasons that extra weight is difficult to shed permanently. Now, a new study has uncovered another method by which the gut senses how much food a person eats and relays that to the brain.

16 Jun 2016

Researchers highlight gene loss as potential process of genetic change, evolutionary adaption

"Loss is nothing else but change and change is nature's delight" says the quote by the philosopher and emperor Marcus Aurelius, which opens the scientific article that analyses the gene loss phenomenon and its impact on the evolution of living beings.

16 Jun 2016

Research suggests gonad as vital player in evolutionary process

A pair of studies led by Indiana University researchers provide new evidence that when it comes to evolution, the testes may play a key role.

16 Jun 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study suggests how expression, function of nAChRs regulated in AD

Brain imaging finds link between blood-brain barrier disruption and severity of bleeding after stroke therapy

Diabetic mothers three times more likely to have anti-fetal brain autoantibodies

Researchers develop AI-powered systems to make pathologic diagnoses more accurate

New research program seeks to elucidate traumatic memories of 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris

Decision-making dysfunction may be key contributor to movement disorder symptoms in Parkinson’s patients

Training and learning improve perception, brain activity at old age

Cells grown from pluripotent stem cells can pair with heart muscle cells to stimulate contractions

Dirty working environment can impact cognitive function of employees

Absence of one specific species of gut bacteria causes autism-related social deficits in mice

Natural molecule NAC could benefit patients with Parkinson's disease

Mice study highlights vital role of liver in balancing fats and sugars

Epilepsy in immediate family member may increase person’s chances of being diagnosed with autism

Cerebral microbleeds linked to increased risk of physical, cognitive disability in MS patients

Tumour protein TP53 can locate DNA targets autonomously to prevent cancer

Statins can lower infection risk by 58% in stroke patients

Shire introduces third annual Excellence in ADHD Patient Group Awards

Study sheds new light on how overeating may lead to more eating

Researchers highlight gene loss as potential process of genetic change, evolutionary adaption

Research suggests gonad as vital player in evolutionary process

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd 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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