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.

GLNT study to evaluate abnormal muscle tone caused by neurological disorders

Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies announced today that it is launching a study to determine the feasibility of a clinician-worn glove to objectively evaluate abnormal muscle tone, such as stiff joints or muscle tightness, due to neurological disorders.

16 Jan 2014

Heavy drinking associated with faster decline in cognitive function in middle-aged men

Middle-aged men who drink more than 36 grams of alcohol, or two and a half US drinks per day, may speed their memory loss by up to six years later on, according to a study published in the January 15, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 15, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that people who get their health insurance through high-risk insurance pools will have an extra two months before this program ends.

15 Jan 2014

Study reveals high prevalence of TB infection among young children

A small study by investigators from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College in India reveals high prevalence of tuberculosis infection among young children, troubling rates of disseminated disease and alarming patterns of drug resistance.

15 Jan 2014

Cognigram can detect early signs of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease

For patients over the age of 50, a routine physical exam at the doctor’s office typically covers a wide spectrum of medical biomarkers with one glaring exception, cognitive health. Unless there have been unusual mental changes or challenges in their daily life, tests of a patient’s attention, memory or brain processing speed is usually not part of a check-up.

15 Jan 2014

Breast cancer cells masquerade as neurons begin to form ultimately-deadly brain tumors

Treatment and "cure" of breast cancer doesn't ensure that the disease won't spread to the brain. Too often, sometimes years after an initial diagnosis and remission, breast cancer cells are discovered growing as new tumors within the brain. Now City of Hope researchers have found how this happens.

15 Jan 2014

New minimally invasive procedure for AF patients who are intolerant of blood-thinning medications

Sanford Heart Hospitals in Fargo and Sioux Falls now provide a new, minimally invasive procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who are intolerant of blood-thinning medications. Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder that affects nearly 3 million adults in the United States.

15 Jan 2014

Less gray matter in brain not linked to reading disabilities in people with dyslexia

In people with dyslexia, less gray matter in the brain has been linked to reading disabilities, but now new evidence suggests this is a consequence of poorer reading experiences and not the root cause of the disorder.

15 Jan 2014

Hepatitis C infection varies widely among different Hispanic groups in the U.S.

The first study of hepatitis C infection among different Hispanic groups in the U.S. has found that infection with the virus varies widely, with Puerto Rican Hispanics much more likely than other groups to be infected. The study, led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, highlights which Hispanic populations would benefit most from increased hepatitis C testing and treatment.

15 Jan 2014

Presence of gene variant in people with MCI associated with accelerated rates of brain atrophy

The presence of a gene variant in people with mild cognitive impairment is associated with accelerated rates of brain atrophy, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

15 Jan 2014

Brain's structure is related to how intensely people perceive pain, say scientists

Everybody feels pain differently, and brain structure may hold the clue to these differences. In a study published in the current online issue of the journal Pain, scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have shown that the brain's structure is related to how intensely people perceive pain.

15 Jan 2014

Cortical thickness changes may contribute to early schizophrenia

Altered cortical thickness is related to the severity of positive symptoms in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, but not to the duration of untreated illness, report researchers.

14 Jan 2014

Deep-brain stimulation boosts PD patients’ driving performance

Deep-brain stimulation reduces errors among patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing a driving simulator test, a study shows.

14 Jan 2014

MRI method to map creatine in heart may help detect disorders earlier than traditional methods

A new MRI method to map creatine at higher resolutions in the heart may help clinicians and scientists find abnormalities and disorders earlier than traditional diagnostic methods, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggest in a new study published online today in Nature Medicine.

13 Jan 2014

Ultrasound can modulate brain activity to heighten sensory perception in humans

Whales, bats, and even praying mantises use ultrasound as a sensory guidance system - and now a new study has found that ultrasound can modulate brain activity to heighten sensory perception in humans.

13 Jan 2014

Researchers discover two genetic mutations associated with Familial Alzheimer's Disease

New research, led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researcher Chunyu Wang, has solved one mystery in the development of Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD), a genetic variant of the disease that affects a small fraction of the Alzheimer's population. In a paper published online January 6 in the journal Nature Communications, Wang and his team follow the trail of two genetic mutations - V44M and V44A - known to cause FAD, and show how the mutations lead to biochemical changes long linked to the disease.

13 Jan 2014

BRAF mutation associated with other cancers appears to drive papillary craniopharyngiomas

A team led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Broad Institute has found that a gene mutation associated with several types of cancer also may be responsible for a rare but debilitating brain tumor called papillary craniopharyngioma.

13 Jan 2014

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

GLNT study to evaluate abnormal muscle tone caused by neurological disorders

Heavy drinking associated with faster decline in cognitive function in middle-aged men

First Edition: January 15, 2014

Study reveals high prevalence of TB infection among young children

Cognigram can detect early signs of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease

Breast cancer cells masquerade as neurons begin to form ultimately-deadly brain tumors

New minimally invasive procedure for AF patients who are intolerant of blood-thinning medications

Less gray matter in brain not linked to reading disabilities in people with dyslexia

Hepatitis C infection varies widely among different Hispanic groups in the U.S.

Presence of gene variant in people with MCI associated with accelerated rates of brain atrophy

Brain's structure is related to how intensely people perceive pain, say scientists

Cortical thickness changes may contribute to early schizophrenia

Deep-brain stimulation boosts PD patients’ driving performance

MRI method to map creatine in heart may help detect disorders earlier than traditional methods

Ultrasound can modulate brain activity to heighten sensory perception in humans

Researchers discover two genetic mutations associated with Familial Alzheimer's Disease

BRAF mutation associated with other cancers appears to drive papillary craniopharyngiomas

Texas researcher receives U.S. patent for new class of compounds that protect against TBI

Study shows wide-ranging variation in patterns of X chromosome inactivation in female mice

New technology efficiently transfers investigational antibodies from blood via blood-brain barrier

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