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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.

Linking socioeconomic status and lifestyle to dementia risk

Researchers examine how socioeconomic status and healthy lifestyle factors interact to affect the risk of dementia.

18 Sep 2024

Genome-wide association study identifies genetic risk factors for dementia

In landmark research, scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) have reported the largest-ever genome-wide association study of dementia from all causes, revealing an overlap of genetic risks including neurodegeneration, vascular factors and cerebral small-vessel disease.

18 Sep 2024

The importance of mitochondrial function in health and disease

The World Mitochondria Society (WMS) is preparing for its annual Targeting Mitochondria 2024 conference, which will focus on innovative strategies to "charge" cells by supplying them with extra mitochondria to enhance cellular function and combat diseases.

18 Sep 2024

OU Health Sciences receives major cancer research grant

A $5.3 million National Institutes of Health grant awarded to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences will support advanced cancer research in Oklahoma. The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant is designed to build research capacity and help early-career researchers establish independently funded laboratories.

18 Sep 2024

New insights into the mechanisms of efavirenz-induced neurotoxicity

Efavirenz is an important drug for treating HIV infection, but it has negative effects that can significantly impact patients' quality of life over time. It causes neuropsychiatric disorders and neurocognitive impairment in roughly 50 percent of patients. The drug is associated with abnormal lipid levels in blood plasma, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for negative clinical observations are unknown.

18 Sep 2024

Air pollution drives higher Parkinson’s risk and worsens symptoms in affected patients

Higher air pollution levels, particularly PM2.5 and NO2, significantly increase the risk of Parkinson's disease and worsen clinical outcomes like dyskinesia.

17 Sep 2024

Microplastics found in the human brain via the olfactory pathway

Researchers have identified microplastics in the human olfactory bulb, highlighting a potential pathway for these particles to enter the brain and raise concerns about their long-term neurological effects.

17 Sep 2024

UC San Diego researcher receives $21 million grant to study sensory coordination in animals

For all animals, sensory processing is a matter of survival. Sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing - the coordination of these senses together helps them find food, return to shelter and escape danger.

17 Sep 2024

UCLA study links childhood trauma to sex-specific health risks later in life

A new study led by UCLA Health found that a person's sex and their unique experiences of childhood trauma can have specific consequences for their biological health and risk of developing 20 major diseases later in life.

17 Sep 2024

Large-scale study to explore impact of type 1 diabetes on brain development in children

About half of adults with type 1 diabetes face significant cognitive impairment, including problems with working memory and executive function that affect day-to-day thinking. But less is known about how the condition affects children during a window of time known to be critical for healthy brain development.

17 Sep 2024

Lupus Research Alliance announces 2024 Diversity in Lupus Research Award recipients

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Career Development and Postdoctoral Awards to Promote Diversity in Lupus Research.

17 Sep 2024

Study reveals sequential neuronal activation regulating food intake

The process of food intake appears to be organized at the cellular level like a relay race: during eating, the baton is passed between different teams of neurons until we have consumed the appropriate amount of energy.

17 Sep 2024

Study identifies optimal meditation positions for ADHD patients

ADHD is a developmental condition of brain with symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity.

17 Sep 2024

Loneliness may not be a direct cause of disease

A study reveals loneliness correlates with 13 illness categories, highlighting its role as a potential proxy marker rather than a direct risk factor.

17 Sep 2024

$4.1 million funding supports epilepsy treatment research using spider venom proteins

UQ researchers have received $4.1 million from the Medical Research Future Fund to advance their research into epilepsy treatments made from spider venom proteins.

17 Sep 2024

Discovery of gene variant could transform treatment for newborn jaundice

One in eight newborn babies has a gene variant that almost completely protects against jaundice. The research, conducted at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, provides the opportunity to develop a treatment that can prevent severe cases of jaundice.

17 Sep 2024