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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.

Groundbreaking study establishes empirical biomarkers to aid in diagnosis, treatment of psychosis

In a groundbreaking study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center, a comprehensive set of empirical biomarkers has been established to aid in diagnosis and treatment of psychosis.

9 Dec 2015

UC San Diego researchers awarded MJFF grant to identify biomarkers for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is difficult to diagnose, particularly in its early stages. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine - aided by a $375,000 grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research - hope to improve the prospects of early diagnosis by identifying a biological signpost in the blood.

9 Dec 2015

UGA researchers identify biological markers for mental disorders

A team of researchers led by faculty at the University of Georgia has identified a number of biological markers that make it possible to classify mental disorders with greater precision. Their findings, published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry, may one day lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for those suffering from mental illness.

9 Dec 2015

Expression of particular estrogen receptor can reinstate lost memory function

The hormone estrogen helps protect memory and promote a healthy brain, but this effect wanes as women age, and even estrogen replacement therapy stops working in humans after age 65. Now researchers at University of Florida Health have used gene therapy in a rat model to show that the expression of a particular receptor can reinstate lost memory function.

9 Dec 2015

Study emphasizes vital role of sleep in maintaining good emotional balance in our life

Cranky or grumpy after a long night? Your brain's ability to regulate emotions is probably compromised by fatigue. This is bad news for 30 percent of American adults who get less than six hours of sleep per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

9 Dec 2015

UW named a final winner in Head Health Challenge II

Today, the University of Washington was named a final winner in the Head Health Challenge II, a collaboration among the NFL, Under Armour, and GE to identify and fund innovations that improve head health for athletes, members of the military and society at-large.

9 Dec 2015

New drug therapies that target glutamate pathway may be effective for subgroups of patient with schizophrenia

Mounting evidence indicates that disturbances in the brain's glutamate pathway contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, the glutamate pathway has become the target of a number of new drug therapies. Findings published in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggest that at least one of these drugs may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early course of the illness.

9 Dec 2015

Brief dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program alters how brains respond to supermodels

Scientists at Oregon Research Institute have published unique research results indicating that a brief dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program (Body Project) alters how young women's brains respond to images of thin supermodels.

9 Dec 2015

Lawson scientists develop commercial imaging product for PET/MRI scanners

Scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute, in collaboration with Ceresensa Inc., have produced the first commercial imaging product available in the world for PET/MRI scanners. The novel PET-transparent MRI head coil provides unparalleled images to advance the study, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases.

9 Dec 2015

Novel antidepressant appears to be safe, effective against depression in clinical trial

A small clinical trial of a novel antidepressant that stimulates neurogenesis - the production of new brain cells - shows that the compound appears to be safe and may be effective against depression.

9 Dec 2015

Harvard's Kevin Staley honored with AES Research Recognition Award for Basic Science

The American Epilepsy Society announces that Kevin Staley, M.D., professor of child neurology and mental retardation at Harvard Medical School and chief of pediatric neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, is being honored with the AES Research Recognition Award for Basic Science at the Society's 69th annual meeting in Philadelphia.

8 Dec 2015

Oxitec prepares to increase supplies of OX513A to address recent outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil

Intrexon Corporation, a leader in synthetic biology, today announced that Oxitec, a UK-based subsidiary of the Company, is prepared to increase supplies of its proprietary mosquito control solution, OX513A, through its Brazil facilities to assist Brazil in addressing the recent devastating outbreak of the Zika virus and other diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

8 Dec 2015

Penn's Brian Litt recognized with AES Research Recognition Award for Clinical Science

The American Epilepsy Society announces that Brian Litt, M.D., professor of neurology, neurosurgery and bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, is being honored with the AES Research Recognition Award for Clinical Science on December 7, 2015, at the Society's 69th annual meeting in Philadelphia.

8 Dec 2015

Children born to mothers with PCOS at increased risk of developing autism

Children born to mothers with polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, are at an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorders, according to a new epidemiological study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet. The findings, which are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, support the notion that exposure to sex hormones early in life may be important for the development of autism in both sexes.

8 Dec 2015

UB researchers develop a way to ramp up conversion of skin cells into dopamine neurons

For decades, the elusive holy grail in Parkinson's disease research has been finding a way to repair faulty dopamine neurons and put them back into patients, where they will start producing dopamine again. Researchers have used fetal material, which is difficult to obtain and of variable quality. Embryonic stem cells represented a tremendous innovation, but making dopamine neurons from stem cells is a long process with a low yield.

8 Dec 2015

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may up Alzheimer's disease risk

Men taking androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the years that followed than those who didn't undergo the therapy, an analysis of medical records from two large hospital systems by Penn Medicine and Stanford University researchers has shown.

8 Dec 2015

Existing compound offers hope for slowing Huntington's disease progression

Currently, there is no treatment to halt the progression of Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs sufferers of their physical and mental abilities. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that an existing compound, previously tested for diabetes, offers hope for slowing HD and its symptoms.

8 Dec 2015

Pediatric chemotherapy regimen improves outcomes in young adults with ALL

Using a pediatric chemotherapy regimen to treat young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) significantly improved their outcomes compared to what has historically been achieved with 'adult' treatment protocols, report Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists.

8 Dec 2015

Study provides new insights into relationship between taste, behavior

Evolutionary conserved brainstem circuits are the first relay for gustatory information in the vertebrate brain. While the brainstem circuits act as our life support system and they mediate vital taste related behaviors, the principles of gustatory computations in these circuits are poorly understood.

8 Dec 2015

Patients suffering from diabetic foot have significantly impaired cognitive function

In a first-time study, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers revealed a new finding in people with diabetes who suffer from "diabetic foot." Patients with this condition also have significantly impaired cognitive function.

8 Dec 2015

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Groundbreaking study establishes empirical biomarkers to aid in diagnosis, treatment of psychosis

UC San Diego researchers awarded MJFF grant to identify biomarkers for Parkinson's disease

UGA researchers identify biological markers for mental disorders

Expression of particular estrogen receptor can reinstate lost memory function

Study emphasizes vital role of sleep in maintaining good emotional balance in our life

UW named a final winner in Head Health Challenge II

New drug therapies that target glutamate pathway may be effective for subgroups of patient with schizophrenia

Brief dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program alters how brains respond to supermodels

Lawson scientists develop commercial imaging product for PET/MRI scanners

Novel antidepressant appears to be safe, effective against depression in clinical trial

Harvard's Kevin Staley honored with AES Research Recognition Award for Basic Science

Oxitec prepares to increase supplies of OX513A to address recent outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil

Penn's Brian Litt recognized with AES Research Recognition Award for Clinical Science

Children born to mothers with PCOS at increased risk of developing autism

UB researchers develop a way to ramp up conversion of skin cells into dopamine neurons

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may up Alzheimer's disease risk

Existing compound offers hope for slowing Huntington's disease progression

Pediatric chemotherapy regimen improves outcomes in young adults with ALL

Study provides new insights into relationship between taste, behavior

Patients suffering from diabetic foot have significantly impaired cognitive function

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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