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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.

NIMH-supported researchers discover key secrets of the underlying brain circuitry

A few years ago, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health discovered in rats that awake mental replay of past experiences is critical for learning and making informed choices. Now, the team has discovered key secrets of the underlying brain circuitry -- including a unique system that encodes location during inactive periods.

14 Mar 2016

Drexel University researchers explore effective drug for treating established status epilepticus

Drexel University College of Medicine researchers are conducting an emergency medicine study to find out the most effective drug for treating established status epilepticus -- a life-threatening condition in which the brain is in a state of persistent seizure.

14 Mar 2016

Blueberries can have a real benefit in lowering risk of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's

The blueberry, already labeled a "super fruit" for its power to potentially lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, also could be another weapon in the war against Alzheimer's disease. New research being presented today further bolsters this idea, which is being tested by many teams.

14 Mar 2016

Valley Hospital to evaluate potential new treatment alternative for AFib patients

The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, is one of 15 U.S. sites currently enrolling patients in a research study to evaluate a potential new treatment alternative for patients with symptomatic persistent and long standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib).

13 Mar 2016

Study shows gut microbes alter platelet function, heightens risk of heart attack and stroke

In a combination of both clinical studies of over 4,000 patients and animal model studies, Cleveland Clinic researchers have demonstrated -- for the first time -- that gut microbes alter platelet function and risk of blood clot-related illnesses like heart attack and stroke.

11 Mar 2016

Once-daily nutritional drink can help reduce brain shrinkage in prodromal AD patients

Topline results from the European LipiDiDiet clinical trial were presented today as part of a late-breaking presentation at the Advances in Alzheimer's Therapy congress.

11 Mar 2016

Grid cells involved in broader range of cognitive process than previously thought

Evidence of grid cell activity has been seen in healthy volunteers asked to imagine moving through an environment in new UCL research funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust.

11 Mar 2016

Scientists map biological networks of genes to gain new insights on disease mechanisms

Innovative software tools allowed the scientists to construct accurate "maps" of gene networks for about 400 different human cell and tissue types, ranging from immune cells to brain tissues, whereas previous studies were limited to just one or few tissues.

11 Mar 2016

Different types of physical activity can improve brain structure, reduce Alzheimer's risk

A new study shows that a variety of physical activities from walking to gardening and dancing can improve brain volume and cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 50%.

11 Mar 2016

People who burn more calories have larger gray matter volume in key brain areas linked to memory, cognition

Whether they jog, swim, garden or dance, physically active older persons have larger gray matter volume in key brain areas responsible for memory and cognition, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UCLA.

11 Mar 2016

Studies raise hope for new treatments, preventive approaches for schizophrenia

Emerging evidence on the development, "prodromal" characteristics, and long-term course of schizophrenia provide reasons for optimism for developing new treatments and preventive approaches for this devastating disorder, according to the special March/April issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

11 Mar 2016

Scientists sort out mechanism of Alzheimer's disease development

A group of the Lomonosov Moscow State University scientists, together with their colleagues from the Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences and the King's College London, succeeded in sorting out the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease development and possibly distinguished its key trigger.

11 Mar 2016

Findings offer novel way for creating drugs to stop mitochondria from destroying cells during stress

Malfunctioning mitochondria — the power plants in cells — are behind the damage caused by strokes, heart attacks, and neurodegenerative diseases, but little has been known about how to stop these reactors from melting down, destroying cells and tissue. Mitochondria also take up calcium, which regulates energy production.

11 Mar 2016

Springing forward one hour may lead to increased heart attack risk

Many people may groan about losing an hour of sleep March 13, but there may be a more serious reason to be mindful of daylight saving time.

11 Mar 2016

Scientists optimize imaging and behavior techniques to monitor activity of neurons

The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. The Purkinje cells, a class of neurons located in this region, are a major site of information integration that regulate changes in neural connections caused by varying factors such as behavior, environment, and emotions. Thus Purkinje cells provide an ideal location for studying the mechanisms necessary for cerebellum dependent motor learning.

11 Mar 2016

Researchers develop molecule that can inhibit enzyme associated with onset of stroke

Research teams separated by 14 hours and 9,000 miles have collaborated to advance prospective treatment for the world's second-leading cause of death.

11 Mar 2016

People suffering from anxiety perceive the world differently than others

People suffering from anxiety perceive the world in a fundamentally different way than others, according to a study reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on March 3. The research may help explain why certain people are more prone to anxiety.

11 Mar 2016

Love hormone may enhance compassion of people suffering from PTSD symptoms

Oxytocin - "the love hormone" - may enhance compassion of people suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to new study conducted at the University of Haifa and Rambam Health Care Campus: "The fact that the present study found, that Oxytocin may improvement compassion among patients with post-traumatic stress disorder toward women, provides new evidence that oxytocin may be able to improve the social behavior of these patients," said Professor Simone Shamay-Tsoory from the Department of Psychology at the University of Haifa, who led the study.

11 Mar 2016

Maternal bacterial infections affect fetal brain anatomy and cognitive functioning after birth

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered how pieces of bacterial cell wall cross the placenta and enter developing neurons, altering fetal brain anatomy and cognitive functioning after birth. The study appears today in the scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe.

10 Mar 2016

Scientists explore new treatment avenues to protect obese individuals from cardiovascular disease

Fatness is clearly linked to cardiovascular disease, but scientists want to find why the unhealthy pair tend to go hand-in-hand and how to break up their relationship.

10 Mar 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

NIMH-supported researchers discover key secrets of the underlying brain circuitry

Drexel University researchers explore effective drug for treating established status epilepticus

Blueberries can have a real benefit in lowering risk of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's

Valley Hospital to evaluate potential new treatment alternative for AFib patients

Study shows gut microbes alter platelet function, heightens risk of heart attack and stroke

Once-daily nutritional drink can help reduce brain shrinkage in prodromal AD patients

Grid cells involved in broader range of cognitive process than previously thought

Scientists map biological networks of genes to gain new insights on disease mechanisms

Different types of physical activity can improve brain structure, reduce Alzheimer's risk

People who burn more calories have larger gray matter volume in key brain areas linked to memory, cognition

Studies raise hope for new treatments, preventive approaches for schizophrenia

Scientists sort out mechanism of Alzheimer's disease development

Findings offer novel way for creating drugs to stop mitochondria from destroying cells during stress

Springing forward one hour may lead to increased heart attack risk

Scientists optimize imaging and behavior techniques to monitor activity of neurons

Researchers develop molecule that can inhibit enzyme associated with onset of stroke

People suffering from anxiety perceive the world differently than others

Love hormone may enhance compassion of people suffering from PTSD symptoms

Maternal bacterial infections affect fetal brain anatomy and cognitive functioning after birth

Scientists explore new treatment avenues to protect obese individuals from cardiovascular disease

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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