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.

New study measures neurodevelopment in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is generally considered to be a disorder of brain development and it shares many risk factors, both genetic and environmental, with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability.

15 Sep 2014

Research roundup: Prevention services for seniors; drug shortages

This policy brief reports the findings of a systematic review conducted by the Community Health Innovations in Prevention for Seniors (CHIPS) project. ... Clinical preventive services such as colorectal cancer screening and pneumococcal immunization can help reduce rates of premature death and disability. Yet, many older adults are not receiving the full set of clinical preventive services that have been proven effective and are considered "high value" in terms of their costs per life saved. Rates are particularly low among racial and ethnic minority older adults compared to national goals.

15 Sep 2014

Brain structure 'significantly predictive' of individual risk attitudes

There is a link between our brain structure and our tolerance of risk, new research suggests.

15 Sep 2014

Broach Foundation makes $5 million commitment to support glioblastoma multiforme research

The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research has made a $5 million commitment to support glioblastoma multiforme research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

15 Sep 2014

UC Irvine study sheds light on cognitive losses

Brain inflammation can rapidly disrupt our ability to retrieve complex memories of similar but distinct experiences, according to UC Irvine neuroscientists Jennifer Czerniawski and John Guzowski.

15 Sep 2014

New class of compounds protect brain cells from traumatic brain injury

A new class of compounds has now been shown to protect brain cells from the type of damage caused by blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (TBI).

12 Sep 2014

IMRIS receives FDA clearance for new neurosurgical HFD rocker arm

IMRIS Inc. today announced a new rocker arm accessory that expands choices for neurosurgeons to select the best fixation suited for patients during procedures using intraoperative imaging inside the VISIUS Surgical Theatre. The accessory recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

11 Sep 2014

FDA approves Contrave extended-release tablets for chronic weight management

Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. and Orexigen® Therapeutics, Inc. jointly announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Contrave® extended-release tablets as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.

11 Sep 2014

Cancer Research UK, CRT partner with Asterias to trail novel immunotherapy treatment for lung cancer

CANCER RESEARCH UK and Cancer Research Technology , the charity's development and commercialisation arm, have reached an agreement with Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company in the emerging field of regenerative medicine, to take forward Asterias' novel immunotherapy treatment AST-VAC2 into clinical trials in subjects with non-small cell lung cancer.

11 Sep 2014

Olympus launches objective lenses, enabling super-deep imaging of tissues, live-cell imaging and light sheet microscopy techniques

Dedicated to multiphoton excitation microscopy, Olympus introduces its XLPLN10XSVMP and XLSLPLN25XGMP objective lenses with an 8 mm working distance and support for a large range of refractive indices (RI). The objectives enable super-deep imaging of tissues treated with the latest clearing agents as well as live-cell imaging and light sheet microscopy techniques.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 11 Sep 2014

Research gives scientists new insight into evolution of gibbon genome

A team led by an Oregon Health & Science University researcher has sequenced and annotated the genome of the only ape whose DNA had yet to be sequenced - the gibbon, an endangered small ape that inhabits the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

11 Sep 2014

More research needed to prevent brains of sportspeople from injury

Two University of Birmingham academics are calling for more research to be carried out looking at how the brains of sportspeople - including children - react when they receive a blow to the head.

11 Sep 2014

Study looks at blood type and risk of cognitive impairment

People with blood type AB may be more likely to develop memory loss in later years than people with other blood types, according to a study published in the September 10, 2014, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

11 Sep 2014

Food commercials 'get under the skin' of teens by activating reward regions

Children and adolescents see thousands of food commercials each year and most of them advertise junk foods high in sugar, fat and salt.

11 Sep 2014

Study to understand how brain detects errors caused by unexpected sensory events

University of Pennsylvania researchers have made another advance in understanding how the brain detects errors caused by unexpected sensory events.

11 Sep 2014

Different regions of brain help to visually locate objects relative to one's own body

Serena Williams won her third consecutive US Open title a few days ago, thanks to reasons including obvious ones like physical strength and endurance. But how much did her brain and its egocentric and allocentric functions help the American tennis star retain the cup?

11 Sep 2014

Get SET Early: New program to reduce mean age of ASD diagnosis in multiple cities

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now estimated to impact one in every 68 children born in the United States. Yet despite its rising prevalence and the known benefits of early detection and treatment, toddlers in much of the United States are routinely not identified as possibly having ASD until well after their third birthday.

11 Sep 2014

Researchers find that people suffering from sleep apnea have weaker brain blood flow

Employing a measure rarely used in sleep apnea studies, researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing have uncovered evidence of what may be damaging the brain in people with the sleep disorder - weaker brain blood flow.

11 Sep 2014

Pollution in many cities threatens brain development in children

Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children. Findings by University of Montana Professor Dr. Lilian Calder-n-Garcidue-as, MA, MD, Ph.D., and her team of researchers reveal that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

11 Sep 2014

Lower rates of suicide linked with more daily sunshine

Lower rates of suicide are associated with more daily sunshine in the prior 14 to 60 days. Light interacts with brain serotonin systems and possibly influences serotonin-related behaviors. Those behaviors, such as mood and impulsiveness, can play a role in suicide.

11 Sep 2014