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.

Mapping the human body one cell at a time: New study reveals the intricate relationship between cell size and count

A study published in PNAS provides a comprehensive look at the relationship between cell size and count across the human body, drawing from over 1,500 sources and identifying around 400 unique cell types. The research reveals an almost inverse relationship between cell size and count, offering a quantitative framework that could serve as a baseline for understanding cellular composition and function in various applications.

19 Sep 2023

Rehabilitation for chronic knee pain may not be targeting all the right muscles

A new study from the University of Connecticut has discovered that rehabilitation to address chronic knee pain may not be targeting all the right muscles.

19 Sep 2023

Transforming postpartum depression treatment with neurosteroids

A new study in Neuropsychopharmacology delves into the mechanisms of action of brexanolone, the first FDA-approved, rapid-acting antidepressant specifically for postpartum depression (PPD). The research highlights brexanolone's potential anti-inflammatory effects and its impact on GABAA receptors, offering insights into its efficacy and suggesting avenues for further study.

19 Sep 2023

New NIH plan outlines HSV research framework with four strategic priorities

In response to the persistent health challenges of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, today the National Institutes of Health released the Strategic Plan for Herpes Simplex Virus Research.

19 Sep 2023

Men exposed to job stressors have twice the risk of heart disease

Men who say they have stressful jobs and also feel they exert high efforts for low reward had double the risk of heart disease compared to men free of those stressors, according to new research published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a peer-reviewed American Heart Association journal.

19 Sep 2023

Study evaluates method of remote screening and assessment for cognitive impairment and dementia

Researchers evaluated the performance of the electronic Clinical Dementia Rating (eCDR) for cognitive impairment and dementia screening among older adults.

19 Sep 2023

AR headset proven effective digital tool for improving posture in people with Parkinson’s disease

An augmented-reality headset is an effective digital tool for improving posture and gait in people with Parkinson's disease, according to a recent Cleveland Clinic trial. Findings were published in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.

19 Sep 2023

Ongoing gene therapy trials have driven increased use of ALS genetic testing, finds study

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine led the creation of evidence-based consensus guidelines for genetic testing and counseling for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that affects the cells in the brain and spine.

19 Sep 2023

Researchers identify new blood marker for dopamine system damage

The marker in question is called DOPA decarboxylase (DCC). In the current study, DCC was found to be elevated in individuals with Parkinson's disease as well as in people with other diseases that result in dopamine deficiency in the brain. However, the marker was normal in other brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The researchers even noticed that DCC was elevated in individuals with Parkinson's many years before they developed any symptoms.

19 Sep 2023

Telecare improves outcomes for patients with dementia and lightens the load for unpaid caregivers

A UCSF telecare program that improves outcomes for patients with dementia and lightens the load for unpaid caregivers also has the surprising bonus of cutting Medicare costs, according to UC San Francisco research.

19 Sep 2023

Adaptive platform trial shows promise for finding new glioblastoma therapies

An innovative phase 2 clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in collaboration with 10 major brain tumor centers around the country and designed to find new potential treatments for glioblastoma has reported initial results in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. While none of the three therapeutics tested so far improved overall survival of patients, this adaptive platform trial, the first of its kind in neuro-oncology, has the potential to rapidly and efficiently identify therapies that benefit patients.

19 Sep 2023

New research offers insight about the reason mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited

New research provides insight about the bedrock scientific principle that mitochondrial DNA - the distinct genetic code embedded in the organelle that serves as the powerplant of every cell in the body - is exclusively passed down by the mother.

19 Sep 2023

Gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs in brain cells

Researchers are gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs (circRNAs) in brain cells.

19 Sep 2023

Bacteriophage cocktail can effectively disrupt Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms on medical equipment

Researchers investigated whether a cocktail of bacteriophages coding for the depolymerase polysaccharide could effectively disrupt Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms.

18 Sep 2023

Single-cell screening of cerebral organoids to identify developmental defects in autism

Researchers develop CRISPR-human organoids-single-cell RNA sequencing system to identify developmental brain defects in autism.

18 Sep 2023

Using sea slug brains to map human brain development

A University of Massachusetts Amherst neuroscientist has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke to advance knowledge on human brain development by using an unusual subject: the brain of the sea slug.

15 Sep 2023

Neighborhood disadvantage associated with differences in microstructure of the brain's cortex

You are what you eat, according to the adage. But it's not just the body that's impacted. According to research from UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, living in a disadvantaged neighborhood can affect food choices, weight gain and even the microstructure of the brain.

15 Sep 2023

BU researchers receive NIH grant to identify genetic factors for Alzheimer's disease

The National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging recently awarded a $13.7 million grant to a project led by Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine principal investigators Lindsay Farrer, PhD, chief of biomedical genetics and distinguished professor of genetics, and Richard Sherva, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in biomedical genetics, for research using whole genome sequencing and other approaches to identify genetic factors for Alzheimer disease (AD) in Jews currently living in Israel who trace their ancestors to southern Spain and locations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Arab citizens of Israel.

15 Sep 2023

New genetic test reveals a person’s predisposition to happiness

Your happiness levels aren't only based on external events. Genome testing can reveal how happy and optimistic you are predisposed to be. A leading testing expert reveals how variations of a key gene, CNR1, may have a significant impact on your level of happiness.

15 Sep 2023

Is maple syrup the ultimate natural sweetener? Researchers say it's more than just tasty!

Scientists explore the myriad benefits of maple syrup, revealing its nutritional, pharmacological, and sensory advantages over traditional sweeteners. From antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to controlling blood sugar and even potential anticancer effects, maple syrup is more than just a tasty topping.

14 Sep 2023

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Mapping the human body one cell at a time: New study reveals the intricate relationship between cell size and count

Rehabilitation for chronic knee pain may not be targeting all the right muscles

Transforming postpartum depression treatment with neurosteroids

New NIH plan outlines HSV research framework with four strategic priorities

Men exposed to job stressors have twice the risk of heart disease

Study evaluates method of remote screening and assessment for cognitive impairment and dementia

AR headset proven effective digital tool for improving posture in people with Parkinson’s disease

Ongoing gene therapy trials have driven increased use of ALS genetic testing, finds study

Researchers identify new blood marker for dopamine system damage

Telecare improves outcomes for patients with dementia and lightens the load for unpaid caregivers

Adaptive platform trial shows promise for finding new glioblastoma therapies

New research offers insight about the reason mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited

Gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs in brain cells

Bacteriophage cocktail can effectively disrupt Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms on medical equipment

Single-cell screening of cerebral organoids to identify developmental defects in autism

Using sea slug brains to map human brain development

Neighborhood disadvantage associated with differences in microstructure of the brain's cortex

BU researchers receive NIH grant to identify genetic factors for Alzheimer's disease

New genetic test reveals a person’s predisposition to happiness

Is maple syrup the ultimate natural sweetener? Researchers say it's more than just tasty!

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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