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.

Study shows certain brain cells play critical role in anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Sixty years ago scientists could electrically stimulate a region of a mouse's brain causing the mouse to eat, whether hungry or not. Now researchers from UNC School of Medicine have pinpointed the precise cellular connections responsible for triggering that behavior.

27 Sep 2013

Experiments with neutrons show antidepressant lithium accumulates strongly in white matter of the brain

At present lithium is most popular for its use in rechargeable batteries. But for decades now, lithium has also been used to treat various psychological diseases such as depressions, manias and bipolar disorders. But, the exact biological mode of action in certain brain regions has hardly been understood. It is well known that lithium lightens moods and reduces aggression potential.

27 Sep 2013

Pediatric TBI can cause significant deficits in working memory

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) during childhood can have long-term effects on cognitive and psychosocial functioning, including poor academic achievement. Pediatric TBI can cause significant deficits in working memory, as demonstrated in a study published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

27 Sep 2013

Researchers to use state-of-the-art brain imaging to study mucopolysaccharidosis

A team of researchers will use state-of-the-art brain imaging to unlock the secrets of a genetic disease, mucopolysaccharidosis, in a landmark study the team hope will lead to new treatments for this devastating disease.

27 Sep 2013

Research on bone-derived hormone could lead to new treatments for memory loss, depression

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have found that the skeleton, acting through the bone-derived hormone osteocalcin, exerts a powerful influence on prenatal brain development and cognitive functions such as learning, memory, anxiety, and depression in adult mice.

27 Sep 2013

Researchers study effective ways to get medicine into the brain for treating neurological diseases

A big challenge in medical science is to get medicine into the brain when treating patients with neurological diseases. The brain will do everything to keep foreign substances out and therefore the brains of neurological patients fight a constant, daily battle to throw out the medicine prescribed to help the patients.

26 Sep 2013

Epigenetic changes appear to be candidates as early stage biomarkers for Parkinson

Parkinson disease, a neurodegenerative disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors play important roles, has been associated with epigenetic changes (those molecular modifications that alter the behavior of genes without changing the DNA sequence).

26 Sep 2013

Research suggests omega-3 fatty acids may not benefit thinking skills

Contrary to earlier studies, new research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may not benefit thinking skills. The study is published in the September 25, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Omega-3s are found in fatty fish such as salmon and in nuts.

26 Sep 2013

Targeting cell-division cycle may lead to improved outcomes for patients with medulloblastoma

A new experimental approach to treating a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma has been developed by researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham).

26 Sep 2013

Scientist receives £58,000 from Alzheimer's Research UK to study chemical signals in AD

A University of Southampton scientist has just been awarded more than £58,000 by Alzheimer's Research UK to study chemical signals in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. The research will study the chemical signals that control learning and memory in an attempt to understand more about Alzheimer's and search for new treatments.

26 Sep 2013

Exposure to cocaine during in utero development causes disruptions in normal brain development

Prenatal cocaine exposure affects both behavior and brain. Animal studies have shown that exposure to cocaine during in utero development causes numerous disruptions in normal brain development and negatively affects behavior from birth and into adulthood.

25 Sep 2013

Clinical decision rule may help doctors identify patients with headache in emergency department

Researchers have developed a simple clinical decision rule that may help doctors identify patients with headache in the emergency department who have subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in a certain area of the brain), according to a study in the September 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Sep 2013

Study evaluates outcomes of youth athletes after sports-related concussion

Recent scientific findings have raised the fear that young athletes may fare worse after sustaining a sports-related concussion than older athletes. Researchers from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine compared symptoms associated with concussion in middle/high school-age athletes with those in college-age athletes to determine whether age-related differences exist.

25 Sep 2013

MGH researchers identify rare gene mutations that appear to cause late-onset AD

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have identified and validated two rare gene mutations that appear to cause the common form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that strikes after the age of 60.

25 Sep 2013

Researchers identify molecular pathway linking ICU ventilation to brain damage

At least 30 percent of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) suffer some form of mental dysfunction as reflected in anxiety, depression, and especially delirium. In mechanically-ventilated ICU patients, the incidence of delirium is particularly high, about 80 percent, and may be due in part to damage in the hippocampus, though how ventilation is increasing the risk of damage and mental impairment has remained elusive.

25 Sep 2013

Cerebral imaging in patients with early symptoms of AD may have better clinical outcomes

Patients suffering from early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease who were diagnosed sooner than usual using a brain imaging test received Alzheimer-specific medications earlier than those who did not have the brain imaging results available to their doctors or themselves.

25 Sep 2013

Changes due to single mild explosion in brain has similarity with Alzheimer's

A new study published in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reports that even a single mild explosion can cause changes in the brain that have similarities to those found in diseases like Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

25 Sep 2013

Environmental enrichment protects against atrophy in chronic stages of TBI

For the first time, scientists at Toronto Rehab have found that in people with chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), atrophy (shrinkage) in the brain may be countered by participating in environmental enrichment - increased physical, social and cognitive stimulation.

24 Sep 2013

NCI Funds Development Of Chrysalis’ Brain Tissue Damage Treatment

The National Cancer Institute awarded Chrysalis BioTherapeutics a $1.5 million contract to continue development of Chrysalin® to mitigate radiotherapy-induced damage to normal brain tissue. The project is a collaboration between Chrysalis, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).

24 Sep 2013

First Direct Measurement Of Spinal Cord Myelin In MS

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24 Sep 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study shows certain brain cells play critical role in anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Experiments with neutrons show antidepressant lithium accumulates strongly in white matter of the brain

Pediatric TBI can cause significant deficits in working memory

Researchers to use state-of-the-art brain imaging to study mucopolysaccharidosis

Research on bone-derived hormone could lead to new treatments for memory loss, depression

Researchers study effective ways to get medicine into the brain for treating neurological diseases

Epigenetic changes appear to be candidates as early stage biomarkers for Parkinson

Research suggests omega-3 fatty acids may not benefit thinking skills

Targeting cell-division cycle may lead to improved outcomes for patients with medulloblastoma

Scientist receives £58,000 from Alzheimer's Research UK to study chemical signals in AD

Exposure to cocaine during in utero development causes disruptions in normal brain development

Clinical decision rule may help doctors identify patients with headache in emergency department

Study evaluates outcomes of youth athletes after sports-related concussion

MGH researchers identify rare gene mutations that appear to cause late-onset AD

Researchers identify molecular pathway linking ICU ventilation to brain damage

Cerebral imaging in patients with early symptoms of AD may have better clinical outcomes

Changes due to single mild explosion in brain has similarity with Alzheimer's

Environmental enrichment protects against atrophy in chronic stages of TBI

NCI Funds Development Of Chrysalis’ Brain Tissue Damage Treatment

First Direct Measurement Of Spinal Cord Myelin In MS

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

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