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.

Self-propagating aggregates key to Alzheimer's, other diseases

Two leading neurology researchers have proposed a theory that could unify scientists' thinking about several neurodegenerative diseases and suggest therapeutic strategies to combat them.

6 Sep 2013

Inner-ear dysfunction can increase hyperactivity, say researchers

Behavioral abnormalities are traditionally thought to originate in the brain. But a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has found that inner-ear dysfunction can directly cause neurological changes that increase hyperactivity.

6 Sep 2013

UCLA researchers explain Post-Diverticulitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome

UCLA researchers have described a new form of irritable bowel syndrome that occurs after an acute bout of diverticulitis, a finding that may help lead to better management of symptoms and relief for patients.

6 Sep 2013

Bird Brains Shed Light On Speech Learning

A team of scientists have identified the neurons in the brains of songbirds that allow them to imitate vocal sounds.

5 Sep 2013

Processing of sound in brain is more advanced than previously thought

The processing of sound in the brain is more advanced than previously thought. When we hear a tone, our brain temporarily strengthens that tone but also any tones separated from it by one or more octaves. A research team from Utrecht and Nijmegen published an article on the subject in the journal PNAS on 2 September.

5 Sep 2013

Dopamine improves deficiencies in social behavior, could have implications for neuropsychiatric disorders

A stressful pregnancy might be the last thing a future mother needs, but it is to her unborn baby that this stress spells real trouble. All because stress hormones (called glucocorticoids or GCs) can disturb normal foetal brain development, leading to behavioural and/or emotional problems later in life.

5 Sep 2013

Leopoldina Annual Assembly to focus on factors that shape individual personalities

The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina will focus on the theme "Geist - Gehirn - Genom - Gesellschaft ("Mind, brain, genome and society") at its 2013 Annual Assembly, which will take place from 20 to 22 September and welcome over 400 guests from around the world to Halle (Saale).

5 Sep 2013

Understanding single-sided deafness

Single-sided deafness, or being deaf in one ear, isn't exactly the poster-child for disabilities. Rather, it's an overlooked condition that is often misunderstood by the public. There is no way to see SSD, also called profound unilateral hearing loss, so those who suffer from it are often misperceived as "rude" or "unintelligent" when they don't understand or quickly respond to others. That's just one of the many hidden struggles associated with this condition.

5 Sep 2013

ESMO recognises oncologists with prestigious awards

The European Society for Medical Oncology, the leading pan-European organisation representing medical oncology professionals, announced today the recipients of the annual society's prestigious awards, recognising excellence in oncology.

5 Sep 2013

Elan enrolls first patient dosing in phase 2a study of ELND005 in Down syndrome

Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) announced today the first patient dosing in a Phase 2a study of ELND005 in Down syndrome. Study ELND005-DS201 will evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of 2 doses of ELND005 and placebo in young adults with Down syndrome without dementia, and will also include select cognitive and behavioural measures.

5 Sep 2013

Study shows link between cerebellum and body's ability to sense movement and limb position

Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today study findings showing, for the first time, the link between the brain's cerebellum and proprioception, or the body's ability to sense movement and joint and limb position.

5 Sep 2013

New research aims to help improve lives of children affected by cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy could be helped to speak more clearly following research by a University of Strathclyde academic.

5 Sep 2013

Brown University establishes research center to study attention and other related behaviors

With a major new federal grant, Brown University has established a research center to study key questions in the neuroscience of attention and related behaviors. The COBRE Center for Central Nervous System Function will encompass five projects, each led by a junior faculty member with mentoring from a more senior professor, with the dual goals of better explaining the brain and generating potential new ideas for addressing disorders such as autism.

5 Sep 2013

Scientists uncover neural mechanisms that may help in treatment of language disorders in children

USC scientists have discovered a population of neurons in the brains of juvenile songbirds that are necessary for allowing the birds to recognize the vocal sounds they are learning to imitate.

5 Sep 2013

New laser-based tool could improve accuracy of brain tumor surgery

In the battle against brain cancer, doctors now have a new weapon -- a new imaging technology that will make brain surgery dramatically more accurate by allowing surgeons to distinguish -- at a microscopic level -- between brain tissue and tumors.

5 Sep 2013

Stress-related protein genetically linked to acceleration of Alzheimer's disease

A stress-related protein genetically linked to depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders contributes to the acceleration of Alzheimer's disease, a new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida has found.

5 Sep 2013

New laser-based technology may make brain tumor surgery more accurate

A new laser-based technology may make brain tumor surgery much more accurate, allowing surgeons to tell cancer tissue from normal brain at the microscopic level while they are operating, and avoid leaving behind cells that could spawn a new tumor.

5 Sep 2013

Research: Men who exercise vigorously may reduce risk of epilepsy later in life

New research suggests that men who exercise vigorously as young adults may reduce their risk of developing epilepsy later in life. The study is published in the September 4, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Epilepsy is a brain disease that causes repeated seizures over time.

5 Sep 2013

High-income and better hygiene countries exhibit much higher rates of Alzheimer's

New research has found a "very significant" relationship between a nation's wealth and hygiene and the Alzheimer's "burden" on its population. High-income, highly industrialised countries with large urban areas and better hygiene exhibit much higher rates of Alzheimer's.

5 Sep 2013

Neurodyn acquires all assets related to new drug candidate Memogain from Galantos Pharma

Neurodyn Inc. announced today that it has acquired from Galantos Pharma GmbH, Mainz, Germany all assets related to their Alzheimer's prescription drug candidate - Memogain. Memogain has completed an extensive preclinical development program and is ready to proceed into Phase 1 clinical trials in late 2013. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

5 Sep 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Self-propagating aggregates key to Alzheimer's, other diseases

Inner-ear dysfunction can increase hyperactivity, say researchers

UCLA researchers explain Post-Diverticulitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Bird Brains Shed Light On Speech Learning

Processing of sound in brain is more advanced than previously thought

Dopamine improves deficiencies in social behavior, could have implications for neuropsychiatric disorders

Leopoldina Annual Assembly to focus on factors that shape individual personalities

Understanding single-sided deafness

ESMO recognises oncologists with prestigious awards

Elan enrolls first patient dosing in phase 2a study of ELND005 in Down syndrome

Study shows link between cerebellum and body's ability to sense movement and limb position

New research aims to help improve lives of children affected by cerebral palsy

Brown University establishes research center to study attention and other related behaviors

Scientists uncover neural mechanisms that may help in treatment of language disorders in children

New laser-based tool could improve accuracy of brain tumor surgery

Stress-related protein genetically linked to acceleration of Alzheimer's disease

New laser-based technology may make brain tumor surgery more accurate

Research: Men who exercise vigorously may reduce risk of epilepsy later in life

High-income and better hygiene countries exhibit much higher rates of Alzheimer's

Neurodyn acquires all assets related to new drug candidate Memogain from Galantos Pharma

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