Brain News and Research

RSS

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.

CHOP researchers delay symptoms, extend lifespan in animal model of Batten disease

Researchers have taken a significant step forward in developing gene therapy against a fatal neurodegenerative disease that strikes children. By delivering a working version of a gene to produce a key enzyme that is lacking in Batten disease, the scientists delayed symptoms and extended lifespan in dogs with a comparable disease.

12 Nov 2015

Brain scans may predict possibility of recovering from coma

Brain scans of people in a coma may help predict who will regain consciousness, according to a study published in the November 11, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at connections between areas of the brain that play a role in regulating consciousness.

12 Nov 2015

Research brings scientists one step closer to developing human-like artificial intelligence

Making a computer that learns and remembers like a human brain is a daunting challenge. The complex organ has 86 billion neurons and trillions of connections -- or synapses -- that can grow stronger or weaker over time. But now scientists report in ACS' journal Nano Letters the development of a first-of-its-kind synthetic synapse that mimics the plasticity of the real thing, bringing us one step closer to human-like artificial intelligence.

12 Nov 2015

ApoE4-carrying men with Alzheimer's disease at risk of brain bleeds

A common genetic variation, ApoE4, linked to Alzheimer's disease greatly raises the likelihood of tiny brain bleeds in some men, scientists have found.

12 Nov 2015

Researchers create 'Golden Window' for deep brain imaging

The neuroscience community is saluting the creation of a "Golden Window" for deep brain imaging by researchers at The City College of New York led by biomedical engineer Lingyan Shi. This is a first for brain imaging, said Shi, a research associate in City College's Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers, and the biology department.

12 Nov 2015

Dartmouth researchers reveal involvement of designer brain receptors in cravings

Dartmouth researchers studying rats have discovered that activation of designer neural receptors can suppress cravings in a brain region involved in triggering those cravings.

12 Nov 2015

Montefiore and Einstein researchers awarded $14 million PCORI grant for hepatitis C research

A research team at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine led by Alain Litwin, M.D., was awarded $14 million by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to determine how best to treat hepatitis C among people who inject drugs (PWID), a group with a high rate of infection.

11 Nov 2015

Special orchestra boosts mood and confidence in patients with dementia

A special orchestra for people with dementia has helped boost their confidence and mood, according to a new research project.

11 Nov 2015

Eight myths and truths about Alzheimer's disease

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) impacts more than five million Americans and 15 million caregivers year-round, the nation is especially focused on the disease this month as it observes "National Alzheimer's Disease and Awareness Month."

11 Nov 2015

Medical experts, business leaders to explore healthcare system at Digital Health Summit at CES 2016

The driving forces behind the exponential growth of the multi-billion dollar digital health space will be examined at the 7th annual Digital Health Summit, a Living in Digital Times production at CES 2016.

11 Nov 2015

Researchers draw link between visual acuity and rhythmic pattern in brain's electrical activity

"Blink and you'll miss it" isn't only for eyelids. The human brain also blinks, dropping a few frames of visual information here and there.

11 Nov 2015

Study shows mindfulness meditation reduces pain more effectively than placebo

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have found new evidence that mindfulness meditation reduces pain more effectively than placebo.

11 Nov 2015

Inner ear damage brain warnings from nerve cells

Some nerve cells in the inner ear can signal tissue damage in a way similar to pain-sensing nerve cells in the body, according to new research from Johns Hopkins.

10 Nov 2015

Possible reasons found for Alzheimer’s treatment failure

Agglutinated proteins in the brain, known as amyloid-β plaques, are a key characteristic of Alzheimer’s. One treatment option uses special antibodies to break down these plaques.

10 Nov 2015

Thickness of the cortex in FFA can predict a person's ability to recognize faces and objects

When you see a familiar face, when a bird-watcher catches a glimpse of a rare bird perched on a limb, or when a car-fancier spots a classic auto driving past, the same small region in the brain becomes engaged.

10 Nov 2015

Environmental factors may lead to development of some childhood cancers

Environmental factors may be a contributory cause in the development of some childhood cancers, leading scientists have revealed.

10 Nov 2015

Screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation could reduce risk of stroke, premature death

Screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in people aged 65 and over and treating it with anticoagulant medications could greatly reduce the risk of stroke and premature death, say cardiologists in today's Journal of the American Medical Association.

10 Nov 2015

Drug compounds target multiple pathways associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Efforts to treat myotonic dystrophy type 1, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, are in their infancy. In a new study, researchers report they have added new capabilities to an experimental drug agent that previously defeated only one of DM1's many modes of action. Their retooled compounds interrupt the disease's pathology in three ways.

10 Nov 2015

Two studies explore potential new blood tests for Alzheimer's disease

There is increasing evidence that the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease begin decades before memory and thinking problems occur, prompting the need for better methods of early detection for this progressive, fatal brain disease. Consequently, there is a growing school of thought that the most effective future Alzheimer's drug therapies will be administered to those who are at high risk of the disease before cognitive symptoms appear.

10 Nov 2015

Understanding how schizophrenia affects workings of the brain

Stem cells from adult schizophrenia patients form new proteins more slowly than those from healthy people, according to new research.

10 Nov 2015

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

CHOP researchers delay symptoms, extend lifespan in animal model of Batten disease

Brain scans may predict possibility of recovering from coma

Research brings scientists one step closer to developing human-like artificial intelligence

ApoE4-carrying men with Alzheimer's disease at risk of brain bleeds

Researchers create 'Golden Window' for deep brain imaging

Dartmouth researchers reveal involvement of designer brain receptors in cravings

Montefiore and Einstein researchers awarded $14 million PCORI grant for hepatitis C research

Special orchestra boosts mood and confidence in patients with dementia

Eight myths and truths about Alzheimer's disease

Medical experts, business leaders to explore healthcare system at Digital Health Summit at CES 2016

Researchers draw link between visual acuity and rhythmic pattern in brain's electrical activity

Study shows mindfulness meditation reduces pain more effectively than placebo

Inner ear damage brain warnings from nerve cells

Possible reasons found for Alzheimer’s treatment failure

Thickness of the cortex in FFA can predict a person's ability to recognize faces and objects

Environmental factors may lead to development of some childhood cancers

Screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation could reduce risk of stroke, premature death

Drug compounds target multiple pathways associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Two studies explore potential new blood tests for Alzheimer's disease

Understanding how schizophrenia affects workings of the brain

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

Latest News