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.

Distant ancestor less mentally advanced than expected

A surprisingly complete fossil skull of an ancient relative of humans, apes and monkeys bears striking evidence that our remote ancestor was less mentally advanced than expected by about 29 million years ago.

15 May 2007

Highly anxious patients with heart disease face nearly double the risk of heart attack

Patients whose anxiety intensified over time were in greatest peril, while those who started out highly anxious but later found inner calm markedly reduced their risk. The research appears in the May 22, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

15 May 2007

AIRMA seeks to fund Alzheimer's research projects

Association Internationale pour la Recherche sur la Maladie d'Alzheimer (AIRMA) now is taking applications for funding from French-based scientific teams studying Alzheimer's disease, announced Janet R. Michaels, the organization’s chairwoman.

15 May 2007

A major factor has been overlooked in the way bleeding stroke patients' survival is calculated

Each year, tens of thousands of people receive a dreaded diagnosis: intracerebral hemorrhage, or a "bleeding stroke."

15 May 2007

Scientists find new proteins involved in Huntington's disease

Researchers in the United States have identified more than 200 new proteins that are involved in Huntington's disease.

14 May 2007

Evidence that dementia can be successfully stalled

A University of Sydney academic is part of a team whose research could profoundly change the way we look at and treat dementia.

11 May 2007

Toxoplasmosis infection trick revealed by scientists

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, primarily carried by cats.

11 May 2007

Cardiotrophin 1 molecule shows potential for diagnosing hypertensive cardiopathy

Scientists from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) from the University of Navarra investigate whether cardiotrophin 1, a molecule that can be measured in blood, can be used as a diagnostic marker for hypertensive cardiopathy.

11 May 2007

Researchers tackle traumatic brain injury

Researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) are pursuing efforts to find new ways to prevent and to treat the increasing numbers of combat troops who are suffering from injuries due to traumatic brain injury (TBI).

11 May 2007

Patients with 'bleeding' strokes less likely to receive medications and counseling to prevent recurrent strokes

Patients with a hemorrhagic ("bleeding") stroke are significantly less likely to receive medications and counseling to prevent recurrent strokes compared to patients with an ischemic (clot-caused) stroke, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's 8th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.

11 May 2007

Sexual selection had an important influence on primates brains

When male primates tussle and females develop their social skills it leaves a permanent mark, on their brains.

11 May 2007

Genetic component to autism

Using an innovative statistical approach, a research team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California, Los Angeles, has identified two regions of DNA linked to autism.

10 May 2007

New Cordis device granted Humanitarian Exemption to treat intracranial aneurysms

Cordis Neurovascular, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) approval for the CORDIS ENTERPRISE Vascular Reconstruction Device and Delivery System for use with embolic coils in the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms.

10 May 2007

Omega-3 fatty acids may lower risk of Alzheimer's

Nutritionists have long endorsed fish as part of a heart-healthy diet, and now some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in the oil of certain fish may also benefit the brain by lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

10 May 2007

The financial impact of a brain tumor diagnosis on patients and families

A new study released by the National Brain Tumor Foundation, The Financial Impact of a Brain Tumor Diagnosis on Patients and Families, reveals that the financial impact for patients suffering from brain tumors is devastating and life-changing.

10 May 2007

FDA approves skin patch designed to treat symptoms of early Parkinson's disease

Rotigotine is a drug not previously approved in the United States. Neupro is the first transdermal patch approved for the treatment of symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

10 May 2007

Bipolar disorder - the clue may be in the genes

The first scan of the entire human genetic code has revealed that developing bipolar disorder may to some extent depend on the combined effects of variations in many different genes in the brain, none of which is powerful enough to cause the disease by itself.

9 May 2007