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.

Brain systems become less coordinated with age, even in the absence of disease

Some brain systems become less coordinated with age even in the absence of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study from Harvard University.

5 Dec 2007

Boost the power of your brain with lots of sex and chocolate!

According to a newly published book enjoying some of the good things in life is the way to enhance your brain power.

4 Dec 2007

UCSF Medical Center advances brain disorder treatment with noninvasive radiosurgery tool

The most advanced noninvasive, radiosurgery tool for treating a variety of brain disorders--including tumors--is now being used by specialists at UCSF Medical Center.

4 Dec 2007

Researchers gain new understanding of the causes of dyslexia

Dyslexia marked by poor reading fluency - slow and choppy reading - may be caused by disorganized, meandering tracts of nerve fibers in the brain, according to researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

4 Dec 2007

Genetic markers for mental illness

Researchers have discovered natural genetic differences that might help predict the most effective antipsychotic drugs for particular patients with mental disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's and drug addiction.

4 Dec 2007

Replacing dopamine cells in Parkinson's - new source of cells found

Parkinson disease (PD) is caused by the progressive degeneration of brain cells known as dopamine (DA) cells.

4 Dec 2007

New smart pen and paper technology helps blind students

Subjects like physics, calculus and biology are challenging for most students, but imagine tackling these topics without being able to see the graphs and figures used to teach them.

4 Dec 2007

Lead exposure hinders brain's ability to recover from injury

Exposure to lead can hinder the brain's ability to recover from injury, a recent study in laboratory animals shows.

4 Dec 2007

Genetic testing for severe type of migraine may help identify new treatment options

People with a severe type of migraine in which one side of the body becomes weak should consider genetic testing, according to research that has found familial genes for this type of migraine in people who did not have family members experiencing the problem.

4 Dec 2007

New genetic markers found that increase a person's risk for schizophrenia

Scientists at the Zucker Hillside Hospital campus of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have identified nine genetic markers that can increase a person's risk for schizophrenia.

4 Dec 2007

Body dysmorphic disorder due to visual brain glitch

Although they look normal, people suffering from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) perceive themselves as ugly and disfigured.

4 Dec 2007

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features innovative methods for embryology research

Two methods that permit scientists to examine critical stages in early embryogenesis are featured in this month's release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols.

4 Dec 2007

Brain abnormalities discovered in people who have trouble reading fast

Some people who have problems reading quickly appear to have abnormalities in the white matter of their brains, according to research published in the December 4, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

4 Dec 2007

Functional magnetic resonance imaging aids study of brain development

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful noninvasive tool for studying brain activity in both humans and experimental animals.

3 Dec 2007

Boosting an exercise-related gene in the brain works as a powerful anti-depressant in mice

This finding could lead to a new anti-depressant drug target, according to a Yale School of Medicine report in Nature Medicine.

3 Dec 2007

Merck Serono's Cyanokit approved in Europe

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, announced today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for its product Cyanokit (active substance: hydroxocobalamin) for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning in both adults and the pediatric population.

3 Dec 2007