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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 highlights the critical role of TLR7 in sex-biased Alzheimer’s-related demyelination

Inhibiting an immune signaling protein called TLR7 may help preserve the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers in the brain during both Alzheimer's disease and ordinary aging, suggests a study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

2 Dec 2024

Boosting endocannabinoids could reduce opioid addiction risk

Increasing the levels of chemicals naturally produced in the body called endocannabinoids may thwart the highly addictive nature of opioids such as morphine and oxycodone while maintaining the drugs' ability to relieve pain, according to Weill Cornell Medicine investigators working with researchers from The Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian.

2 Dec 2024

New study explores heart risks of cancer immunotherapy

A cancer therapy that prompts the body's immune defenses against viruses and bacteria to attack tumors can make patients more vulnerable to heart attack and stroke.

2 Dec 2024

Study challenges long-standing understanding of axon structure

Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.

2 Dec 2024

Visceral fat found to contribute to Alzheimer's disease development

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fat to the abnormal proteins in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

2 Dec 2024

Natural proteins may offer new way to treat covid-19 and autoimmune disorders

Some people naturally have higher levels of proteins that protect them from covid-19. New studies at Umeå University of our immune system may pave the way for more personalized treatments of both covid-19 and autoimmune disorders.

2 Dec 2024

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.

2 Dec 2024

Who gets obesity drugs covered by insurance? In North Carolina, it helps if you’re on Medicaid

After losing and regaining the same 20-plus pounds more times than she could count, Anita Blanchard concluded that diets don't work.

2 Dec 2024

Men face sharper brain aging from obesity and heart risks

Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors accelerate brain volume loss, with males experiencing earlier and more significant impacts, highlighting the importance of early interventions to prevent neurodegeneration.

1 Dec 2024

Neural connectivity predicts deep brain stimulation success in essential tremor

Study unveils how specific cortico-thalamic connectivity patterns influence essential tremor suppression with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It highlights the contralateral thalamus as a pivotal driver of tremor modulation and potential pathways for enhanced intervention strategies.

1 Dec 2024

Covid-19 may raise risk of developing multiple sclerosis

Covid-19 may be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). This has been shown by new research at örebro University and örebro University Hospital, Sweden.

29 Nov 2024

New dropletronic devices could transform bioengineering and medicine

Oxford University researchers have made a significant step towards realizing a form of 'biological electricity' that could be used in a variety of bioengineering and biomedical applications, including communication with living human cells.

28 Nov 2024

New model can explain neural and behavioral differences in autism spectrum disorder

Researchers Dr. Yuval Hart and Oded Wertheimer from the Psychology department and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Science (ELSC) at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a new computational model to explain neural and behavioral differences in autism spectrum disorder.

28 Nov 2024

Research sheds light on how fat cells safely enlarge to store energy

A team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), led by Professor Miguel Ángel del Pozo Barriuso, who heads the Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology group at the CNIC, has identified an essential mechanism in fat cells (adipocytes) that enables them to enlarge safely to store energy.

28 Nov 2024

Study reveals effects of temporary blood flow loss on blood vessels in hypertensive rats

A study coordinated by Dr Francesc Jiménez-Altayó, researcher at the Institut de Neurociències of the UAB (INc-UAB) and at CIBERCV, shows that temporary lack of blood flow to the brain can lead to lasting changes in the small arteries of the abdomen in rats with high blood pressure.

28 Nov 2024

Flaws in study design may limit detection of cognitive effects in diet trials

Researchers review the role of diet in preventing cognitive decline and dementia.

28 Nov 2024

Study links combined risk factors for aggressive behavior in men with CTE

People who have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) who have a family history of mental illness may have a higher risk of aggression in middle age, according to a study published in the November 27, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

27 Nov 2024

CBT and rehabilitation likely to improve long covid symptoms

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a program of physical and mental rehabilitation probably improve symptoms of long covid, but the effects are modest, finds a review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ today.

27 Nov 2024

Better maternal diet boosts brain growth and IQ in kids

Higher maternal diet quality during early pregnancy is associated with larger brain volumes and higher IQ scores in offspring aged 10 and 14. Editorial explains why prenatal nutrition plays a crucial role in long-term brain and cognitive development.

27 Nov 2024

Strategic participant selection boosts reliability in brain imaging studies

Brain-wide association studies, which use magnetic resonance imaging to identify relationships between brain structure or function and human behavior or health, have faced criticism for producing results that often cannot be replicated by other researchers.

27 Nov 2024